Lockdown: Ugwuanyi, NGOs, others donate to vulnerable groups in Enugu
The people of Enugu state have continued to receive gift items from the state government, non-governmental organisations and individuals to cushion the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.
It would be recalled that the state government had a fortnight ago announced a partial lockdown arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Mathew Idu, said that no fewer than 6,000 of 50 kilogram bags of rice had been distributed to residents of the state.
Idu disclosed this on Tuesday while responding to a survey on palliatives put in place by the state governments.
He said that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had unveiled the bags of rice tagged: ‘Coal City rice” for distribution to the 17 local government areas of the state, churches and Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs).
Idu said that the state government distributed other items to the people including maize, guinea corn, noodles and bottled water donated by some groups and companies.
The commissioner said that the governor was doing everything possible to ensure that the people were catered for during the lockdown.
Also a non-profit organization, Women International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) says it has donated food items to no fewer than 42 households in the state.
The Country Rep. of the organisation, Dr. Joy Onyesoh, said that the organisation also donated toiletries to 132 families in the state.
Onyesoh said that the gesture was under the organisation’s philanthropic move called ‘Citizens Rising’ in response to the lockdown.
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She described the initiative as a call for citizens to support their neighbours, especially the less privileged with food and sanitary packs due to the challenges that the period had thrown up.
She however, said that the gesture had exposed her to the pitiable condition of a significant number of residents of the state who could not fend for themselves during the period.
“My observation during the visit is heartbreaking. It took away my peace. I observed that these indigent communities are being excluded from the dividends of governance.
“Most of the population depends on daily income and with the current lockdown, they have lost their source of livelihood,” Onyesoh said.
Also, the Association of Persons Living with Disabilities in the state has confirmed the receipt of some palliative materials from the state government.
The representative of the association in the state steering committee on Open Governance Partnership, Mr. Samuel Obiefuna, said the gesture was most deserved by their members who were mostly affected by the lockdown.
