COVID-19: Relief as FCTA offers palliative to 3,000 persons with disabilities

By Stanley Onyekwere

There is a sigh of relief amongst persons with disabilities, from the harsh reality of the prevailing COVID-19 lockdown in Abuja, as they are set to receive 3,000 bags of 5kg rice and 3,000 other foodstuff condiments.
Our correspondent reports that each condiment contains 3kg of semovita, 10 sachets of tomato pastes, one litre of groundnut oil, 3kg bag of garri, and 3kg of beans, salt and sugar.
To this effect, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu yesterday inaugurated a nine-man committee, made up persons with different forms of disabilities to take delivery and distribution of the palliative items, to cushion the effect of sit-at-home order.
Aliyu, who presented some of the items to the group at the Old Parade Ground, Area 1O, Garki, advised the beneficiaries to take one set of the palliatives at a time and ensure that the items are distributed to all affected persons, as the administration would come back for a second phase.
She also called on representative of each group not to deprive anyone of the benefit to partake in the palliative or abuse the trust vested upon them, adding that the group should pray for the safety and wellbeing of the country.
Receiving the items on behalf of the group, chairman of People Living With Disabilities in the FCT, Suleiman Abdulmuminu, thanked the administration for including them as beneficiaries of the palliatives.
Abdulmuminu, who is the Committee Chairman assured that the committee would ensure that the items are distributed according to directives of the FCT Administration.
Similarly, a representative of Network of Women Living With Disabilities in the FCT and a member of the distribution committee, Hon. Lois Auta, noted that the palliatives was one way of showing that the administration has the group at heart.