COVID-19: ALGON supports LGs with relief materials
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) says it is donating relief items to support government’s efforts at containing the spread of the coronavirus across the country.
Mr. Kolade Alabi, national president of ALGON, said this during inspection of the relief materials by the Minister of State for Special Duties, Mr. George Akume in Abuja on Thursday.
The first tranche of 2,000 cartons of relief items, containing rice, garri, spaghetti and maggi, were on their way to various local government areas across the country.
Represented by Mr. Akala Samuel, chairman, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state, the ALGON chairman said the gesture was aimed at supporting government in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
“The third tier of the government is where most Nigerians reside; worried by the fact that we interact with them on daily basis, we know what and what their challenges are, especially in times like this.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has taken a bold step to combat this menace of coronavirus and for us as leaders in the third tier of government, we feel it is necessary to follow whatever directive the president has given.
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“A lot of states have been on lockdown and this affected a lot of citizens who have to go out on daily basis to get what to eat with their family; feeling for their concerns is why we have to commence this stimulus,” he said.
Also speaking, Hajia Binta Adamu, ALGON national secretary, said the body was motivated to rise up to the need of the less-privileged during this critical period.
She said the COVID-19 pandemic called for serious concern, adding that there could be further spread of the disease if the lockdown was not declared.
Responding, Akume commended the gesture by ALGON, adding that it was a good initiative to ease the burden on the government and called on other Nigerians to emulate them.
The minister also called on Nigerians to take the responsibility of helping to stop the spread of the disease by observing the various precautionary measures laid down by the government such as regular washing of hands, use of hand sanitisers and social distancing.
He said that the whole idea was to ensure that the strategies which, he said, was gradually working, would contain the spread.
“COVID-19 is real and that is why the President has decided to take it serious; a lot of efforts has been made by the government, over N10 billion has been sent to Lagos state government.
“Our target is to defeat the virus, we must join hands; I commend ALGON for collaborating with the federal government, thanks for the wonderful intervention,” Akume said.
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