Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday led the bank’s management team to commiserate with Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church , Madalla, Suleja, over the Christmas Day bomb blasts that killed more than 40 people. The bank announced a donation of N25m to families of victims of the bomb blast.
Sanusi informed the leaders of the church and other parishioners that the management of the CBN was there to express its condolences and to commiserate with the church and the Madalla community who were affected by the unfortunate incident.
?He stated that what happened was despicable, in that it took place at a holy place and on a holy day. According to Mallam Sanusi, “when you bomb a church on a Sunday or Christmas day and a Mosque on a Friday or Eid day, such actions have implications far beyond the immediate faithful or community.”
Sanusi said that, as a responsible corporate citizen, the CBN in 2006 came up with a policy framework on corporate social responsibility (CSR) which was approved by its board. Thus, in keeping with this policy, the Committee of Governors met and took a decision to donate in order to alleviate the plight of those affected in Madalla and Kano, he explained.
The CBN governor said that the CBN management went to Kano on Friday, and planned to be at Madallah the next Monday, but was told on Saturday that the bishop of Minna, Most Rev. Dr. Martin Igwe Uzoukwu, had travelled to Owerri. According to Sanusi, the church fixed Thursday last week for the visit, but because he would be out of the country for an assignment, the bank requested Monday to ensure that the governor was personally present at today’s event rather than send a representative.
He noted that even though money could not compensate for lives, the N25million donation was a token contribution to help the families of the victims of the attack within and around the church.
The bishop of Minna Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Martin Uzoukwu, thanked the CBN governor and the management of the bank for their good gesture, stating that the CBN’s contribution would go a long way to help the victims.?
Earlier, the parish priest, Very Rev. Father Isaac Achi, recounted the unfortunate incident on that Christmas morning that took the lives of 44 people, with many receiving severe injuries. He stated that the coming of the CBN governor was a testimony to the concern the governor and his team have for the wellbeing of all Nigerians.
Some top members of the CBN management in the governor’s entourage were the deputy governors, operations, economic policy, and corporate services, Mr. Tunde Lemo, Dr. (Mrs.) Sarah Alade and Alhaji Suleiman Barau respectively as well as other executives.