Benue govt shares cartons of noodles, salt, sugar, others as COVID-19 palliatives

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom today flagged off the distribution of palliatives to the vulnerable in the society to cushion the effects of the dreaded coronavirus.

The event took place at the premises of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Makurdi.

The palliatives, made up of Noddles, rice, salt, sugar, semolina, and Spaghetti were donated to the state by the Nigerian private sector driven Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID).

Governor Ortom, who was represented at the event by his deputy and chairman of the state Action Committee on COVID-19, Engr Benson Abounu thanked the coalition, particularly Dangote Foundation and other Organizations that came together to confront the spread of the pandemic in Nigeria and provide succour to the most vulnerable in the society.

For the purpose of transparency, the governor announced the donated food items as follows;
1. Noodles– 96,623 cartons
2. Rice — 49,201 (10kg) bags
3. Salt — 49,201 bags
4. Semolina— 49,201 bags
5. Sugar — 49,201 bags
6. Spaghetti– 49,201 cartons.

He also, announced the membership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Civil Society Organizations, and Women society as part of the Committee to work with council Chairmen at the local government level to carry out the distribution.

He admonished the committee to be transparent and ensure that the food items get to the poorest of the poor, who are affected by the partial lockdown caused by the Corona Virus pandemic.

Earlier the CACOVID representative in the State, Mr Fanan Ndur disclosed that leading players in the Nigerian Private Sector and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) came together to galvanize urgent nationwide support in the fight against COVlD-19 in Nigeria.

According to Mr Ndur, the CACOVID National Food Relief Programme which will see the distribution of various food items to over 1.6 million families and over 10 million Nigerians across the country is to help the most vulnerable households that have been affected by the Coronavirus.

She further expressed appreciation to His Excellency, Gov Samuel Ortom for the assistance given to the CACOVlD team in the fight against COVlD-19 in the State and appealed for continued support and partnership.