Sen. Umaru Al-Makura, (APC- Nasarawa South), has donated cash and rice to persons living with disabilities in his constituency to cushion the effect of Coronavirus pandemic.
Al-Makura told newsmen in Lafia on Saturday shortly after the exercise that besides the donation, sensitisation to prevent contracting COVID-19 was also carried out to enlighten the disabled on steps to take to prevent spread of the virus.
According to the senator, the palliatives and sensitisation will offer the disabled relief and reduce their vulnerability to the virus hence his decision to reach out to them.
He added that he had to also support them given the restrictions imposed by the state government to curb the spread of the virus.
“This category of people has been deprived of substantial and enough sensitisation and enlightenment against this very dangerous disease.
“It makes me feel that people with disabilities are highly vulnerable to this disease because some of them don’t have enough information and enlightenment.
“Some of them don’t have the means to distance themselves from this disease like you can see, quite a number of them are beggars.
“They go to beg in order to live and now we are in a period of lockdown in a state where movements are not allowed.
“So they are not likely to have any opportunity to provide for themselves for the day.
“I feel it is part of our responsibilities as a society and their representatives that our support, enlightenment and sensitisation should be all inclusive.
“That is why I decided that this sensitisation and support should be specifically for the blind, lame, leprous, deaf, the crippled and those with autism,” he said.
Al-Makura explained further that the gesture was in continuation of his commitment to give back to his constituency and to support all groups of people in his constituency irrespective of class, condition, religion or ethnic background.
He urged well meaning Nigerians especially those who had the means and from Nasarawa South senatorial zone to lend a helping hand to the people in the zone especially the old and vulnerable in terms of sensitisation and material support.
“I feel the most vulnerable group as it is now are the people with disabilities.
“I feel we should come to their aid by giving them enough enlightenment and support as much as we can so that they will also be protected against this deadly disease,” he said.
The senator added that as long as people in his constituency were advised to restrict their movements, the distribution of palliatives by his office would continue to meet the yearnings of the people of his constituency.
He said it would also reduce the hardship instigated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is my constituency. There are people with disability that I cherish so much. They are so dear to my heart, that is why I make a priotrity to share these items to them,” he said.
He also called on Muslims in his constituency to be their brothers keeper during the Ramadan in terms of supporting one another, given the restrictions in place.
“My Ramadan message to people of my constituency and people of Nasarawa state is to be our brothers keeper.
“The Ramadan this time around is quite a difficult task because the lockdown is in place and enforced, so the opportunity of earning a living is becoming difficult daily.
“So I feel we should extend some kind of charity to our neighbours, to our brothers, to our constituents and especially people who are disabled.
“So I believe the Ramadan period is a time to reflect and see how much goodwill we can extend to the less privileged,” he said.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Senator had also recently donated 3,000 bags of rice to people of his constituency to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
