A press statement by Austine Elemue, the Special Adviser on Media to FCT Minister of State, said the Federal Capital Territory Administration has received a total of 30,541 bags of 10kg rice, 30,541 cartons of pasta, 61,082 cartons of noodles, 30,541 cartons of sugar, 30,541 of salt and 30,541 bags of semovita respectively donated by the Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID), under the Food Relief Programme of the federal government.
Receiving the items on behalf of the FCT Administration, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, used the occasion to express the administration’s profound appreciation to the entire leadership and members of the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 for this laudable humanitarian intervention.
The minister who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Prof. Muhammad Usman, said that the CACOVID initiative was worthy of commendation because it has contributed significantly in reducing the spread of the disease and its multi-faceted consequences, especially on the vulnerable among residents of the territory.
She assured that in line with the intervention objectives of the CACOVID food relief programme, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has constituted the distribution committees at all levels and committed to ensuring that the items donated get to targeted beneficiaries according to stipulated quantities for each beneficiary household.
The minister observed that the outbreak of COVID-19 has thought Nigerians the realization that working together, Nigerians can conquer any challenge that threatens our collective well-being, just as she tasked Nigerians to keep up this conquering spirit as we strive to build a safe and prosperous nation for all.
She said, “With our committed efforts, we have succeeded in containing the magnitude of the pandemic and saving a large number of Nigerians. We will continue to remain grateful to all those that supported us in this battle that we continue to wage in our resolve to defeat our common enemy—COVID-19.
“On our part, the FCT Administration headed by Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and I have looked at the current crisis as an opportunity to initiate reforms to revitalise our economy for the benefit of all, especially in the agricultural value chain, and medium enterprises to create needed jobs”.
Earlier, representive the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, who is the leader of the committee, said the financial institutions and indeed the private sector have been working tirelessly with government at all levels, to bring relief to those most affected by the corona virus pandemic in Nigeria.
Ibrahim who is also the Executive Director of First Bank Plc, said the items were donated to the FCT Administration for onward distribution to the most vulnerable members of the territory, just as he tasked the administration on equitable distribution as was done in previous exercises.
According to him: “the financial sector which is the bank has been working closely with the federal and state governments to bring about the much needed relief this pandemic has brought about. Today, we are going to witness yet another landmark achievement. We are handing-over relief items essentially food items to be distributed to most vulnerable in the society”.
