Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, donated 50 tonnes of high-quality dates to Nigeria.

Saudi ambassador to Nigeria, Faisal Alghamdi, presented the donation at a ceremony in Abuja.

Speaking, Nezat Talaqi, the team lead of KSRelief, said the donation was a gift from the custodians of the two Holy Mosques of King Salman Al Saud.

He said the Saudi government, through the King’s Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), had been providing humanitarian assistance to Nigeria in different fields.

He said the most recent intervention was the execution of the Et’am Initiative, in which 48,300 persons got food baskets in Kano, Yobe and Borno at $500,000.

Also, a statement by the embassy said Saudi’s humanitarian centre intended to carry out a medical diagnostic campaign in Abuja, Kano and Lagos as part of efforts to fulfil its humanitarian and pioneering role at the international level and also its commitment to the 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 statement noted. “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.”

It added that “to a number of friendly countries among which is Nigeria so that it can reach the needy families all over the world,” noting that “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 aid to Nigeria, for the betterment and interest of the brotherly and friendly Nigerians people,” it stated.

The statement also mentioned that since its establishment in May 2015 and with the help of 175 United Nations members, KSRelief has delivered 2,374 projects valued at more than $6.2 billion and benefitting 91 countries.

(NAN)