By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has launched a massive distribution of food and non-food items to vulnerable groups in Maiduguri, Borno State, and its surroundings.
The beneficiaries include: orphans, widows, persons with disabilities, women groups, youths, vigilante groups, commercial riders and drivers, security agents, traditional rulers, state and national assembly members, local and state governments, and other organizations.
The distribution, which took place at the NEDC Warehouse near NEMA Warehouse in Maiduguri, was flagged off by the Managing Director/CEO of NEDC, Alhaji Goni Mohammed Alkali.
He emphasized that this gesture is part of the Ramadan Kareem Palliatives aimed at alleviating the sufferings and hardships of the people during the fasting period ¹.
Some of the items distributed include:- Food Items: 7,000 bags of rice, 5,000 cartons of spaghetti, 7,000 cartons of vegetable oil and non-food items: 4,000 pieces of blankets, 5,000 pieces of mats, 4,000 pieces of wrappers, 5,000 pieces of Shadsah materials
“On behalf of the management team my colleagues from the commission, we are directed. to hand over these food and non food items to the people living with disabilities, widows, orphans and orphanage homes.
“Others include security agents, Assembly members, Emir’s and chiefs , the police, military, vigilante groups, FITYANUL ISLAM , Izala, Ansaruddeen, FOMWA, Renewed Hope, political parties, commercial riders and drivers associations and unions among others,” Alkali said.
He noted that the commission has also extended relief items to 7,197 persons affected with flood challenges because of the Ramadan fast. The commission also took a look at orphans and other individuals.
“The commission decided to reach to all the people and groups or organizations but we are starting today with the vulnerable groups like orphans, widows and persons with disabilities before continuing with other groups like the security formations, traditional rulers, clubs, unions and associations.
“Yes. We are also distributing the same food and non food items to the people and organizations in other states of the North East, namely, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe , Yo e and Borno states. We did the same thing last year .
“But to a selected or sizeable beneficiaries. While this year, we have expanded the programme to include other people and groups including the legislatures and royal fathers as well as security agencies to enable them reach their people also,” Mohammed said.
The highlights of the event include symbolic distribution of the food and non food items to some widows, orphanage homes and persons living with disabilities.
