COVID-19: Rivers Palliatives Committee distributes foodstuffs in Obio/Akpor LGA
COVID-19: Rivers Palliatives Committee distributes foodstuffs in Obio/Akpor LGA
Foodstuffs
By Omuboye Sukubo
Port Harcourt, April 9, 2020 (NAN) The Rivers COVID-19 Palliatives Distribution Committee has commenced distribution of foodstuffs in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state to cushion the effect of the closure of markets.
The Chairman of the Committee, Amb. Desmond Akawor, while presenting the food items to representatives of various wards in the LGA, on Thursdy in Port Harcourt, noted that the gesture was a promise kept by Gov. Nyesom Wike.
He said the excruciating pains Rivers people were going through because of the closure of markets, made the governor to consider it necessary for food items to be made available to communities.
“As representatives, you are to ensure that the items get to the downtrodden in your midst, and the process will be monitored to ensure that the aim is not defeated,” he said in a statement by Mr Soibi Max-Alaalibo, Special Adviser on Media to Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications.
“We are proceeding to all wards in the state, and what we are doing is, we are handing over these items to the community leaders, and this has no political undertone.”
According to him, everyone is aware of COVID-19 that is ravaging the whole world, and Gov. Wike is the first in the country that has the political will to lockdown a state’s environment.
“It is an acknowledgement of the fact that everything possible has to be done to prevent the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic from either infecting anyone in the state or spread, knowing how vulnerable the state is.
“With all the inlets from other parts of the world into the state, through the sea and International Airport, for us, we consider it as a covenant that Wike has made with Rivers people to protect their life.
“So, the aim of the lockdown is to ensure that the spread of this virus did not extend to Rivers,” he said.
Akawor disclosed that the representatives of the various wards included clergymen, youth leaders and leaders of the gender groups.
He said that in each ward visited, the clergymen among the representatives, spoke on behalf of the recipients, and thanked the state government for the timely response.
The chairman of the committee was accompanied by members of the committee, comprising of religious and political leaders, non-partisan and military personnel to each of the wards visited. (NAN)
OAS/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)
(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)