COVID-19: FG Distributes 3, 000 bags of rice, truck of vegetable oil, 100 tons of maize, sorghum and gari in Ogun

Abeokuta: Sina ODUNTAN

As the lockdown declared by the Federal Government continues to bite hard on Nigerians, the Federal Government yesterday disclosed that it has concluded plans to distribute five trucks of relief items containing 3, 000 bags of 50kg rice and one truck of vegetable oil to vulnerable in Ogun State.

This is in addition to other several trucks containing over 100 tons of maize, sorghum and gari meant to be distributed to the people in the state in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on ameliorating the sufferings of the people of the state during the lockdown period.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouk stated this yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

Speaking with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Governor Abiodun, the Minister said she was in Ogun State to empathise with the government and people of the State, and to deliver President Muhammadu Buhari’s goodwill message to the State, discuss the safety net for the poor and vulnerable and discuss the progress of enrollment for beneficiaries under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme of the Federal Government.

“I am here as a special representative of President Muhammed Buhari to bring goodwill message, the message of solidarity to the government and good people of Ogun State based on COVID-19 pandemic.

“To discuss with the governor, how we are going to work on the safety net for the vulnerable people in the country, especially in Ogun state.

“And lastly, I have come with some relief items for the government of Ogun state to support what they are doing as a palliative to the vulnerable and poor people.

“I have also come to ascertain the progress so far for the enrolment on the registration for beneficiaries under the Conditional Cash Transfer. These are issues that brought me to Ogun state,”Hajia Sadiya Farouk delivered the message of Mr. President.

Expatiating on the Conditional Cash Transfer documents that are trending on social media, the Minister said “Definitely, such documents are not coming from my office. I am not aware of such documents.”

In another vein, Hajia Farouk added that “The President has pronounced the lockdown of three affected areas; two states and FCT and all the palliative measures were taken to cushion the effects of this COVID-19 which Ogun state is included.

“I can assure you that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to see that it supports the state government in delivering these palliatives to the vulnerable and poor citizens.

“What we have on the ground so far is a Presidential Taskforce of which my Ministry is part. And in that task force, we have committees such as Transport and Logistics with one of the agencies under the Ministry (Security).

“And these committees are working with other relevant agencies to distribute food reliefs that are also approved by Mr. President from the general grain reserves.

“My team from the Ministry is already in the State and we are going to work with Ogun State government to handle these issues.

“They are coming in quite a several truck. To say in precisely, they are over 100 tons of maize, sorghum and gari. What I have brought with me now is another food item which is rice and that is coming in five trucks of 50kg and one truck of vegetable oil. All of these we have brought to the government of Ogun State,” she concluded.