Over 47, 000 vulnerable households in Enugu State will receive palliatives from the Federal Government to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, 47,020 households are to benefit from the palliative items, which included 1,584.09 tonnes (53 trailer loads) of maize and 766.9 tonnes (about 26 trailer loads) of garri (cassava flakes).
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who presented the items to the state government in Enugu, on Wednesday, stated that the palliatives were for vulnerable households that depended largely on others for their daily sustenance.
Represented by the Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. Charles Anaelo, the minister said the gesture was an indication of the Federal Government’s commitment to catering for the vulnerable and downtrodden in the society affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are here to present to you, assorted grains from the National Food Reserve, approved by President Muhammadu Buhari as palliative for distribution to vulnerable persons affected by the restriction directive to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all know that the outbreak of the pandemic has brought about changes and challenges to our normal ways of living.
“Most obvious of this is on the vulnerable persons that depend largely on others for their daily survival,” she pointed out.
Umar-Farouq, identified the vulnerable persons targeted by the federal government to include the aged, people living with disabilities and persons of concerns that deserve support in terms of basic necessities including foods.
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Receiving the items on behalf of the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, thanked President Buhari for remembering Enugu State for the palliatives, especially vulnerable households in the state.
She noted that the Buhari administration had continued to give special attention to issues concerning the state.
She disclosed that the President had, just two weeks ago, reopened the newly upgraded and rehabilitated Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
“On behalf of the entire state, I appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for this special intervention, as well as the minister for the gesture to give succour to our vulnerable people,” she said with an assurance that the items would be judiciously distributed to the vulnerable persons identified.
