Amid the corona virus
pandemic, some communities in Niger State has cried out over how hunger is
dealing with them due to the current lockdown in the state.
pandemic, some communities in Niger State has cried out over how hunger is
dealing with them due to the current lockdown in the state.
They stated that the
COVID-19 palliative distributed by the state government could not reach to them
that they have only heard of it but have received nothing as little as it could
be.
COVID-19 palliative distributed by the state government could not reach to them
that they have only heard of it but have received nothing as little as it could
be.
We are meant to understands
that Niger State amongst others has received supports from corporate bodies to
cushion the effect of the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic on the poor.
that Niger State amongst others has received supports from corporate bodies to
cushion the effect of the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic on the poor.
The state under the
leadership of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has been delivered 500 bags of rice,
1,500 bags of macaroni and 500 cartons of Indomie noodles from Dantata, Sawoe
and Maizube Holdings respectively.
leadership of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has been delivered 500 bags of rice,
1,500 bags of macaroni and 500 cartons of Indomie noodles from Dantata, Sawoe
and Maizube Holdings respectively.
However, reports have
emerged that some vulnerable residents in Chachanga and Paikoro have received
nothing from the palliatives, while others who received lamented that the
package is very small in quantity.
emerged that some vulnerable residents in Chachanga and Paikoro have received
nothing from the palliatives, while others who received lamented that the
package is very small in quantity.
According to a report, the
blind people’s home known as ‘Gidan Makafi in Limawa, a community in Chanchaga,
in Minna, Niger State, residents have been surviving on mangoes over the days
due to their inability to go out amid the lockdown and food supply that reached
to them was insufficient.
blind people’s home known as ‘Gidan Makafi in Limawa, a community in Chanchaga,
in Minna, Niger State, residents have been surviving on mangoes over the days
due to their inability to go out amid the lockdown and food supply that reached
to them was insufficient.
Speaking on their behalf,
the leader of the blind people in the community, Rabiu Abdullahi, noted that
the palliative that reaches to some of them was not enough. According to
Rabiu, who urged the government to give them more of the relief packages, noted
that his people have been on the ‘mango diet’ since they could only eat that to
survive at the moment.
the leader of the blind people in the community, Rabiu Abdullahi, noted that
the palliative that reaches to some of them was not enough. According to
Rabiu, who urged the government to give them more of the relief packages, noted
that his people have been on the ‘mango diet’ since they could only eat that to
survive at the moment.
He said, “These days, we
are not having any other food other than mango, we thank God that it is mango
season. Mango is now our food but we are tired of waiting for mangoes. We need
real food.”
are not having any other food other than mango, we thank God that it is mango
season. Mango is now our food but we are tired of waiting for mangoes. We need
real food.”
“The government brought to
me, eight mudus (the ideal measurement used in the north which contains about
10 milk cups) of rice, eight mudus of maize, eight mudus of millet and 12
pieces of spaghetti.”
me, eight mudus (the ideal measurement used in the north which contains about
10 milk cups) of rice, eight mudus of maize, eight mudus of millet and 12
pieces of spaghetti.”
“I am the leader of the
blind and we have over 150 men as members in Minna, not counting the women and
some of these men have two or three wives and none has less than two children.
So if you calculate it, you will see that we are more than 300,” Rabiu
reiterates.
blind and we have over 150 men as members in Minna, not counting the women and
some of these men have two or three wives and none has less than two children.
So if you calculate it, you will see that we are more than 300,” Rabiu
reiterates.
“What can 8 mudus of rice,
maize, and millet with 12 spaghetti do to these families? It is not enough in
any way. In my family alone, I have 13 children, so even a portion of this
palliative could not even take us for more than a meal.”
maize, and millet with 12 spaghetti do to these families? It is not enough in
any way. In my family alone, I have 13 children, so even a portion of this
palliative could not even take us for more than a meal.”
“Unfortunately, my people
did not believe this is all that they brought, they accused me of taking
everything and bringing out something that is not realistic for us to share.
But some of my members were there when they brought the food that day.”
did not believe this is all that they brought, they accused me of taking
everything and bringing out something that is not realistic for us to share.
But some of my members were there when they brought the food that day.”
Speaking on how the little
palliatives which reached to them were shared, Rabiu said, “some people got two
milk cups of each of the grains; some had to leave it for others to have. My
people in Chachanga and Maitumbi didn’t get anything.”
palliatives which reached to them were shared, Rabiu said, “some people got two
milk cups of each of the grains; some had to leave it for others to have. My
people in Chachanga and Maitumbi didn’t get anything.”
He added, “We are feeling
it more. If the rich people are crying about the impact of the lockdown, is it
we beggars that will not cry? We are those that if they do not give to us, we
won’t eat. For now, no one is giving us anything.
it more. If the rich people are crying about the impact of the lockdown, is it
we beggars that will not cry? We are those that if they do not give to us, we
won’t eat. For now, no one is giving us anything.
“These days, we eat only
mangoes and we are tired of eating mangoes. We need real food. We hear on the
radio, a lot of donation of food that the government has gotten and they say it
is for the vulnerable and less privileged, then who are we? Are we not vulnerable?
Are we not the less privileged? Then why can’t they give us enough that will go
round and last us even if it is for a week?
mangoes and we are tired of eating mangoes. We need real food. We hear on the
radio, a lot of donation of food that the government has gotten and they say it
is for the vulnerable and less privileged, then who are we? Are we not vulnerable?
Are we not the less privileged? Then why can’t they give us enough that will go
round and last us even if it is for a week?
“How did the state
government in its wildest imagination want us to share 21 Mudus of grains among
such a large number of households? If the government’s thinking agrees with the
thinking of members of the public, it wouldn’t act this way. We are very disenchanted
with the government officials including the state governor over their
insensitivities to the plights of the poor people in the society,” he said.
government in its wildest imagination want us to share 21 Mudus of grains among
such a large number of households? If the government’s thinking agrees with the
thinking of members of the public, it wouldn’t act this way. We are very disenchanted
with the government officials including the state governor over their
insensitivities to the plights of the poor people in the society,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State has
earlier announced through its Task Force on COVID-19 that 8,220 bags of grains
would be shared to the 274 wards across the 25 local government areas of the
state to cushion the Coronavirus lockdown.
earlier announced through its Task Force on COVID-19 that 8,220 bags of grains
would be shared to the 274 wards across the 25 local government areas of the
state to cushion the Coronavirus lockdown.
