Despite the worrying trajectory of the coronavirus (COVID-19) which is fast spreading across Nigeria, Konga, Nigeria’s foremost e-commerce giant, has announced its determination to continuously deploy its huge nationwide delivery and warehousing infrastructure to assist the government in reaching the citizenry with essential needs.

This the firm does even as it has reassured its customer base of its commitment to ensuring that they are served with essential requirements, irrespective of their locations.

The composite e-commerce giant was arguably one of the first Nigerian corporates to anticipate the coronavirus challenge, long before it assumed the current status of an impending national crisis. As a matter of fact, weeks before the pandemic started spreading rapidly across Nigeria, Konga had internally activated a comprehensive preventive compliance system which drew widespread commendation. In addition, Konga’s thoughtfulness and high-level emergency readiness, which had seen it receive high praises from several quarters, had seen it deploy its considerable structure and resources in the face of the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Among these is the set-up of a COVID-19 response desk to handle enquiries and requests and the launch of multiple partnerships to assure lowest prices for customers on products across categories including genuine drugs and other related health products for its customers.

Equally important, the management of Konga had also put up millions of Naira in palliatives to support shoppers throughout this period, which Nigerians had already started benefitting from.

Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, Co-CEO, Konga Group, affirms that the company will not relent in its determination to stand with Nigerians through these trying times.

“Konga as a composite e-commerce group is proud to stand with Nigerians at this time. Certainly, the country faces an uncertain period with the growing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, we understand that Nigeria needs us now more than ever before. As a result, we are determined to put our considerable infrastructure at the disposal of the governments and in supporting our customers in these tough times.

‘‘We are structured to anticipate emergencies and situations like this which the world is facing at the moment. This is evident in the speed with which we responded in setting up a series of responsive systems and initiatives when the coronavirus pandemic first broke out.

‘‘Across Nigeria, Konga boasts of internally owned and secured massive regional state-of-the-art digital warehouses in Lagos, Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Kano, Ibadan, Warri, Enugu, among others as well as our nearly 40 network of physical stores dispersed across Nigeria’s landscape with 16 operational stores in Lagos alone. Added to this is a large chain of digitally-powered delivery trucks, vans, vehicles and motorcycles. All these assets will be placed at the disposal of the Federal and State governments for the delivery of essentials such as medical equipment, drugs, testing kits and other supplies and in reaching our customers at the last mile this period.”

Consequently, Prince Ekeh has appealed to customers to prioritise pre-payment in order to assist the company ease the surge for essential deliveries.

“With the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, we have noticed a significant increase in shopping activity, especially for groceries and other essentials. Naturally, this comes with a surge. Therefore, we appeal to customers to pre-pay for their items in order to help us manage the increased demand.”

Nevertheless, he assured that the company was not stopping payment on delivery option.

“We are not stopping payment on delivery. However, these are critical times and due to the need to creatively manage logistics infrastructure to cater for the increased demand and the delivery of essentials such as medical needs, we encourage shoppers and prospective customers to pre-pay as this would aid us serve them faster and better,” he concluded.

Nigeria is battling the coronavirus scourge which has so far seen over 40 confirmed cases since an undisclosed Italian, who returned to the country on February 24 became the index case. Meanwhile, the government, in a bid to curtail the spread, has announced bans on airports, religious gatherings and markets. Furthermore, there have been renewed calls for better personal hygiene and social distancing among the populace in a bid to curb the coronavirus menace.

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