COVID-19: Minister of Humanitarian Affairs hands over palliatives to Kano State

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq on Sunday in Kano, handed over 10 trucks of rice from the Nigerian Customs Service; 2,438 metric tonnes of maize; 1,380 metric tonnes of millet and 900 metric tonnes of sorghum to the Kano State Government as a palliative to cushion the adverse effect of lockdown.

This was just as she implored the state government to ensure that the poor and vulnerable, including the elderly and persons living with disabilities are prioritised in the distribution of these relief materials because they are the most affected in times of crisis.

On Sunday, Farouq, speaking at the African Hall in Kano, said: “I am here on behalf of the Federal Government to handover 10 trucks of rice from the Nigerian Customs Service; 2,438 metric tonnes of maize; 1,380 metric tonnes of millet and 900 metric tonnes of sorghum to the Kano State Government.

She said she came “to stand in solidarity with the people and government of Kano State as we battle the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the humanitarian crisis it is leaving in its wake.

“I must commend the leadership exhibited by His Excellency, the Governor and other officials of the Kano State government manifested in their proactive response to this pandemic.

“As the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria with markets that serve the West and Central African sub-regions, we have to recognise the fact that, the restriction on movement has interrupted economic activities in the state and brought untold hardship to the people who are mostly subsistent income earners and who make their income on a daily basis from the bustling markets in the State. We feel their pain and acknowledge their concerns.

“This is a very challenging period in the history of our country and the world at large, however, as we work together to confront the health, humanitarian and sundry challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am hopeful that we will prevail, and ultimately leverage this crisis to build better resilience and a greater nation.

“Cognisant of these challenges and limitations imposed by the pandemic, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari has consequently, directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to expand the Safety Net Programmes to include more vulnerable people at risk from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

She added that Kano State must be prepared to deploy the model of the modified programme and the Ministry will deploy its team to monitor the progress.

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