500,000 RELIEF MATERIALS: NO GOING BACK- OGSG

Ogun State government has reassured residents of the State that it would ensure that relief materials targeted at 500,000 households were judiciously distributed to the vulnerable, aged and the poor.
         
The Deputy Governor and Chairman,  COVID-19 Taskforce in the State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, gave this assurance while officially receiving relief materials donated to the State Government by Victims Support Funds (VSF), at the Ministry of Agriculture Mitros Rice Annex Office, Asero, Abeokuta.
          She said the present administration in the State was concerned about the effect of lockdown on its residents and was determined to cushion such by ensuring that their welfare was given top priority, adding that government would not renege on its pledge to distribute 500,000 relief materials to the vulnerable in the State.
          "To mitigate the effect of the lockdown in the State, we have pledged to provide 500,000 relief materials to the vulnerable across the State, but because we cannot do this alone, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun had reached out to private citizens, organisations, as well as the corporate world to support the state during this unprecedented time which has never happened before in the country.
          "We had already shared Rice, Beans, Garri and other condiments to go with it. I can assure you that the beneficiaries of these parcels were already identified, we already have list of people and progressively, we are going towards our 500,000. We have done well over 100,000 parcels and your donation will also complement what we have on ground", she stated.
          The Deputy Governor, while lauding VSF’s support, which she noted was timely, assured of it judicious distribution across the State through various taskforce Committees set up in the 20 Local Government Areas of the State, explaining that the they have been mandated to collect essential information of beneficiaries for follow-ups, to ensure the items get to the direct beneficiaries.
          In her remark, the Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, who was also present at the presentation, appreciated VSF for coming to the aid of the State at this trying period.
          Earlier in her presentation, the Chairperson, Victims Support Funds COVID-19 Taskforce, Mrs. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, pointed out that, having noticed the alarming rate of the spread  of Coronavirus, the Chairman of VSF Presidential Committee, Lt. Gen Theophilus Danjuma ( Rtd), held an emergency meeting with its members and the taskforce was set up to reach out to states, so as to help mitigate the spread, mobilise collective efforts and assist State governments with palliative measures to cushion the effect, especially during the lockdown.
          She added that a donation worth N100million of food items, non- consumables, medical equipments, drugs, as well as toiletries were being officially presented to the State government.
          Items received included; 2,060 relief packs with each pack containing 10KG of rice, 10KG of Beans, 10KG of Garri, 4 litres of Vegetable Oil and 2 bags of Salt, non food items, medical equipment and toiletries.
          Other State Government functionaries at the presentation were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu, Commissioners for Special Duties, Barr. Femi Ogunbanwo, Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Funmi Efuwape and Health, Dr. Tomi Coker.

Oluwaseun Boye