Africa's richest man offers to assist Liberia fight Ebola

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has expressed his desire and preparedness to assist Liberia in the fight against the spread of the Ebola virus disease.

Dangote, a Nigerian multi investor and an industrialist made the commitment in a telephone conversation with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Friday, according to a statement by the Liberian government on Sunday.

The Nigerian volunteered to assist Liberia with medical personnel and other human and material resources aimed at containing the spread of the virus, the statement added.

He promised that his charity organization, the Dangote Foundation will work with the Liberian leader's office to determine what assistance can be provided ranging from medical personnel as well as other professional healthcare workers.

President Sirleaf thanked Dangote for the promised assistance and praised the Nigerian businessman for reaching out to the government and people of Liberia.

She said this assistance will go a long way to help rebuild the country's healthcare system with highly skilled medical doctors and healthcare personnel during this critical period and beyond the Ebola virus disease.

Dangote is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the 23rd richest person in the world and the richest man in Africa.

Liberia is amongst three hardly hit West African countries that has lost over 4,000 lives with healthcare workers being mostly affected.