The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, presented a donation of 50 tonnes of high quality dates to Nigeria, in a bid to deepen bilateral relations between both countries.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom to Nigeria, Mr Faisal Alghamdi presented the donation at a ceremony in Abuja.
Speaking, Nezat Talaqi the Team Lead of KSRelief, said that the donation was a gift from the custodians of the two Holy Mosques of King Salman Al Saud.
He said the government of Saudi through the King’s Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), had been providing humanitarian assistance to the Government of Nigeria in different fields.
He said that the most recent intervention was the execution of Et’am Initiative in which 48, 300 persons got food baskets in Kano, Yobe and Borno at a cost of 500,000 dollars.
Also, a statement by the Embassy, said that the Kingdom’s humanitarian centre intended to carry out a medical diagnostic campaign in Abuja, Kano and Lagos, as part of efforts to fulfill its humanitarian and pioneering role at the international level, and also its commitment to humanitarian principle that focused on alleviating the sufferings of all people in distress.
“This will happen in the second quarter of 2023, in which various medical procedures will be offered free of charge to Nigerians.
“The handover of these dates is part of the humanitarian and Relief assistance presented by the custodian of the two holy mosques-may Allah protect him.
“To a number of friendly countries among which is Nigeria so that it can reach the needy families all over the world.
“This and more represents the commitments of the Kingdom’s strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries at all levels.
“The Kingdom is committed to continue to provide all necessary humanitarian relief and aids to Nigeria, for the betterment and interest of the brotherly and friendly Nigerians people,” it stated.
It added that since its establishment in May 2015 and with the help of 175 United Nations members, KSRelief had delivered 2,374 projects valued at more than 6.2 billion dollars and benefitting 91 countries.
Receiving the donation, Mrs Janet Olisa, the Director Region, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed gratitude to the government of Saudi Arabia, saying that Nigeria and its people were thankful for the act of kindness.
“Every year, the Saudi government has been gracious to share gifts with us of Dates, and today we are here to appreciate what they’ve always done.
“Which, a lot of people have benefitted and benefitted from all the dates we have been giving over the years, and what is important is the bilateral relations between both countries have been very good.
“Also, this is one of the little things but very important gesture and the things that has always join us together. As members of OPEC is not just talking about the crude.
“There are little gifts of exchange between the two countries and the fact that they’ve always been there for us during the Hajj pragramme and that again is another precious gift to the Nigerian people.
“We are very grateful. So this dates will go a long way to sweeten our hearts,” she said.
She added that the dates would be given to the Humanitarian Ministry.
“Within the ministry we also ensure that little by little everybody gets a little bits of the dates and it shared around so it touches a lot of hearts and homes,” she said.
