Covid-19: Dino Melaye Gives Palliatives To Kogi West Residents

Dino Melaye has given out a fresh batch of relief materials to help people with the present hard economic realities they are facing in this period of Covid-19 Lockdown

Dino Melaye has given out a fresh batch of relief materials to help people with the present hard economic realities they are facing.

He said the bags of rice are meant for the poor people of Kogi West as a palliative measure👏.https://t.co/mNpJl22jT0

— Legit.ng (@legitngnews) May 12, 2020

"We Can't Accept Expired Rice. Hunger Won’t Kill Us” – Governor Wike Tells FG

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said he is not interested in getting accolades from the Federal Government in his bid to protect Rivers State from being ravaged by COVID-19

Wike also said his concern about the neglect of Rivers State in the COVID-19 fight by the Federal Government was always misconstrued for confrontation.

The Rivers State Governor made this known during a statewide broadcast on Friday, while also speaking on the effort of the state government towards eliminating COVID-19 from the state.

On the distribution of palliatives from the federal government, Wike said he rejected the over 1000 bags of rice because they were expired, adding that it was wrong for the Federal government to have asked Rivers State to go and take delivery of the trucks of rice in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

He also stated that the disbursement of palliatives to states to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus was selective and laced with bias.

Wike further berated the federal government’s swift response to Kano’s situation despite ignoring several earlier appeals from the Rivers State Government.

He noted that he was amazed that less than 48 hours after Kano State complained, the government intervened and gave them the needed support.

“What happened in Kano again tells you the inconsistencies and the kind of role the federal government plays. It is really unfortunate.

“When I said the federal government has not supported us, people want to bring down my head. Kano State Governor cried for help and in 48 hours, the president did a broadcast and provided support for the state.

“If they have responded to our request, we would have commended them. What crime have I committed. Is it that Kano state is more important than Rivers state or what?

“That is what happens. Is it that Rivers state is not part of Nigeria? There are those that are bigger than the country. There are also those they don’t see as part of Nigeria.

“They said we should go to Calabar and carry rice. Rice that is expired. How would they even ask us to go to Calabar? If you want to give us something, you bring it. We can’t go to Calabar. We know that our people are hungry, but hunger will not kill us,” he said.

Governor Wike also said the state will review its permit for the movement of oil workers because many oil companies have been flouting the state’s orders.

The Rivers State Governor, therefore, assured that his administration will continue to do its best to protect the people from COVID-19.

Gov. Abdulrazaq Frees 101 Prison Inmates in Kwara

About 101 inmates at Oke-Kura maximum and Mandala medium correctional centres have been granted executive pardon by the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq led government in Kwara state.

The release was in line with the directive of the federal government for the decongestion of prisons across the country as part of efforts towards curtailing the coronavirus pandemic in the nation.

The State Comptroller of Correctional Service, Adebisi Francis, said that 83 among the total number of inmates who benefited the government gestures were released outrightly.

He urged the freed inmates to always shun all forms of crimes and be useful to the society at large.

He added that state has given the inmates second chance and they should return their gesture by contributing their quotas to the society.

He said further that the beneficiaries are those that have serve 75 percent out of their jail term, those with challenge and aged inmates.

Francis, however, appreciated the Governor for giving the freed inmates palliative that will aide their incorporation into the society.

FG Delivers 110 Trailers Of Rice & Grains To Kano As Palliatives

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has dispatched 110 trucks of palliatives foodstuff from the Federal Government to the Kano State Government for distribution to the needy, vulnerable and people of concern in the state.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, said that the Ministry delivered ten trailer-loads of parboiled rice to the state government about two weeks ago, and in addition to that directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to deliver 100 trucks of grains to five locations in Kano State for distribution to poor and vulnerable households on the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The grains in 100 trailers now on their way to Kano, comprise millet, sorghum and maize, which were released from silos holding the country’s strategic food reserve located across the country.

It could be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to release 70,000 metric tons of food for distribution to less-privileged Nigerians to cushion the effect of the lockdown aimed at checking the spread of the killer-disease triggered by COVID-19 in Nigeria.

The Minister emphasised that “One of the humanitarian interventions provided by the Federal Government is the delivery of food items as palliatives to the poor and vulnerable in all states affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to ease the lockdown situation”.

Sadiya Farouq assured the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Engineer Mustapha Maihaja that: “The Ministry will continue to work closely with all the agencies under its purview, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in discharging its mandates, including providing effective coordination of humanitarian interventions both nationally and internationally for the benefit of the citizens of this country, especially during this Covid-19 Pandemic.”

She highlighted the need for the Agency to work closely with the Ministry and its sister agencies in all the states in monitoring the effective distribution of the palliatives to ensure that the food items reach the intended beneficiaries, especially in states under lockdown.

In his remark, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engr. Mustapha Maihaja assured the Minster that the Agency will work closely with State Governments to ensure the effective monitoring and accountability in distributing the palliatives, and thanked the Minister for the visit and her support to NEMA in discharging its duties for the benefit of Nigerians.

Signed.

Salisu Na’inna Dambatta

For Honourable Minister

April 28, 2020.