Residents in the 11 wards of Oshimili South local government area of Delta state have received palliatives to cushion the effects of the economic downturn.
Items distributed by the state government to the beneficiaries include 940 bags of 25kg of rice and 150 25kg of garri, which are strictly for vulnerable persons only.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Oshimili South Council Secretariat in Asaba, a member of the state house of assembly, Hon (Mrs) Bridget Anyafulu (PDP-Oshimili South) said:
”Take these food items to your various wards, distribute and let the people see the transparency in us for them to know that we are ready to serve them.
”And at the end of the day, let them be the ones that will speak for us and not we speaking for ourselves.
”Let us be sincere for God by ensuring that we distribute these food items to the right people because anything we are doing, we are doing it for God, ” she said.
‘Anyafulu added, ”So these food items are not for the rich, but for the vulnerable in this community. Do not give them to your relatives.
”And that is not to say that you cannot give to your poor relatives. ”
Anyafulu who is also the Chairman of the Palliative Council in the LGA, also emphasised the need for the coordinators to ensure that persons living with disabilities benefit from the gesture.
According to her, there is a percentage for persons living with disabilities and we must always ensure that these persons are carried along in all that we do in this local government because they are part of us.
The lawmaker, while commending the Federal Government and the State government for the provision, noted the initiative was aimed at addressing the ongoing food crisis in the country.
Anyafulu also noted that members of the distribution committee were not politicians, but carefully selected to ensure transparency in the distribution process.
”The committee members are made up of representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, traditional councils, youth leaders among others.
Responding on behalf of the wards leaders, Mr Emordi Obiora, from Ward 1, Oko community, commended the Federal and the State governments for the provisions, assuring that the food items would be distributed to the beneficiaries.
”On behalf of the various representatives of Oshimili South Local Government, I want to thank the State government and our House of Assembly representative for this gesture.
”We are grateful and we want to assume the government that these food items will get to the right persons,” he said.
