The Rotary Club International, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday distributed food items to some communities within the territory.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the food items include rice, garri, beans, noddles and salt.
NAN also reports that some of the communities included Lugbe, Gwarimpa village, Kuje, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Nyaya, Karu, Jabi village, Dutse-Alhaji, Zuba, Jahi among others.
Speaking during the distribution of the food items, the District Governor of the club, Dr Victor Onukwugha, said the gesture was part of the club’s continuous assistance to the people and in support of government’s efforts to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Onukwugha said the club had been assisting and collaborating with the Federal Government in the areas that are necessary, adding that the interventions are done nationally.
“ We continue to do this and we would also extend some personal protective equipment to the frontline people helping with the intervention,” he said.
Onukwugha said it was not a new thing to the rotary, as it also helped during the challenging days of polio eradication.
He said that the rotary’s palliatives had also been distributed in Lagos and Ogun States.
Also, Dr Kazeem Mustapha, Vice Chairman of Nigeria National Polio-plus Committee (NNPC), who was present during the distribution, commended rotary international for its passionate contribution to humanitarian and developmental issues.
Mustapha recalled that rotary international and the global polio eradication partner had been working together with the Federal Government on eradication of polio.
He said that, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it had become important for rotary international to bring its experience in humanitarian interventions to bear.
Mustapha, however, said that the main challenge of the lockdown was that some people were finding it difficult to feed.
He said the palliatives became necessary, especially for people in the communities who needed to go out daily before they could take care of themselves and their families.
On her part, Mrs Omobola Odusoga, the President of Rotary Club, Apo, appealed to wealthy Nigerians to join government in assisting the less privileges at this critical time.
“ I know it’s a rough time for us, but we need to share the little we have.
“ I requested for list of the widows and people that cannot afford three square meals a day, for us to reach out to them and it was well coordinated.
“We should help, no matter how small. We should reach out to the needy and put a smile on their faces. Real happiness is helping others,” she said.
Some residents of the benefiting communities commended the Rotary Club for coming to their aid.
In Kuje, Agnes Baba, a trader, expressed her gratitude to the club for its act of generosity, while calling on other citizens to emulate the kind gesture other.
Similarly, Ladi Jato, a taxi driver who reside in Bwari, said the club’s gesture was timely and would go a long way in bringing succour to him and his family.
He said that since the COVID-19 induced lockdown began, his life had been on a standstill and he was at a loss of what next to do.
“While I figure a way out, this gesture would put some smile on the face of my family. I pray that other people of goodwill would come to our aid,” he said.