Erisco Foods Donates Items Worth Millions to Troops in Northeast

•Present N1m Cheque to next of kin to late Lt.Col. Abu Ali

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

In a bid to motivate Men of the Nigerian Arm Forces currently at the theatre of war against dreaded Boko Haram sect, Erisco Foods Limited, has donated food items worths millions of Naira to the families of troops fighting insurgency in Northeastern parts of the country.

Handing over the food items along side a cheque of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) for the next of kin to late Lt Col. Abu Ali, President, Chief Executive Officer, Erisco Foods Limited, Chief Eric Umeofia said, we have come again to identify with all of you for the great and marvelous work you have been doing, you have done and, continue to do for the safety of all in the country.

Emeofia in his short speech during the handing over ceremony, held at Defence Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, disclosed that without security, those in business can’t achieve much.

According to him, “I thank God that we are here again. When President Muhammadu Buhari was being sworn in, he said that everyone should help the country to move forward. And seeing what our military is doing at the war front against Boko Haram, we are pushed to continue to help in our little way to help the Chief of Defence Staff and all his troops and other security agencies in making sure that we are safe.”

He stated that having witnessed war in Angola and the Nigerian war, that he don’t pray that anything war come close to our area again. “So, we need to support them to quench anything of threats to this nation before it digress.

The CEO noted that, it was always in the interests of everyone and always in in his heart to do more to help the military so that it can continue to fight with strength. Adding that, that is why Erisco Management and Erisco Group of Companies decided to bring a truck of products that can be fast eaten at the war front in an attempt to flush out the remnants security problems that the Boko Haram has created and which you are determined to eliminat.

He revealed that, businesses cannot move forward and that there can not be export of goods and services to other countries when there is security problems. “And, we in business, without security, we are zero. I cared for our security forces because, they are determined to be patriotic to the last level of paying with their lives for the sake of this country.

Emeofia hinted further that, the Military themselves don’t know the extent of help they are doing to people in business. “If our products are not crossing over to other countries, we can’t manufacture more, we can’t produce more. It causes unemployment, it causes robbery and kidnapping. So, when you are there fighting for us, our prayers are always to you.

Continuing, he said: “if only 10% of Nigerians do their own quota as you are doing, we will overcome all these problems we are having including poverty eradication, including recession. It’s our prayers that we will continue to do, we thank God for you that you will continue doing it so that we continue to be safe by the special grace of God.

“It touches our hearts every time I think of what you have been doing for this nation. That is why we will continue by the grace of God to appeal to other Nigerians, other wealthy companies to put a helping hand to support our serving and late gallant officers that have sacrificed and made supreme price for this nation.

“And with this token and with these type of protection you are giving the country, we hope and believe that very soon, things will come back to shape provided that all of us contributes our quota as you are doing.

“That is my reason of lending a helping hand and I hope Inshallah if Allah continue to help us well, we will continue to do our token in many ways. Everybody seems to think that government can do it all for the military, government cannot do it all and if not for the fact that they are determined, nobody can agreed to enter where he will be killed, and he stands by it. It’s just a great sacrificed. And I am very proud of them.”

Responding, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, while receiving the food items said, “it our convictions that this corporate social responsibilities exhibited by the Erisco Food Limited could go a long way in complimenting the Military’s welfare package for our troops in the theatre of operation in the Northeast.

Olanisakin, represented by Air Commodore, Olayinka Tijani, said, “This is most appreciated. The Chief of Defence Staff maintain that this support has demonstrated uncommon patriotism to the nation in general and the Nigerian Military in particular. This act of humanitarian gesture should be emulated by other well-meaning Nigerians as government and military cannot do it alone.
According to Tijani, “be rest assured that this items will be delivered to those that are meant for. Similarly, the cash donation would be presented to the NOK of the deceased senior officer Lt Col Abu Ali,” he said.