By Chris Agbo, Abuja
The Federal Government has started marching promises with action by flagging off the distribution of relief materials to 3.1 million households of People With Disabilities (PWDs) to cushion the effect of the lockdown on PWDs across the country.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq while flagging off the distribution of palliatives at Karamajiji (Disability Colony ) on Saturday in Abuja said they would carry out the same exercise in other places, they would be reaching out to PWDs in FCT, Lagos, Ogun and Kano.
In this very community, we are attending to 450 households numbering over 1500 persons.
She informed that next week, the team will extend distribution to other communities in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States after which we would move to Kano.
She said the ministry has done all the processes and identified the beneficiaries, so by early next week they will commence, the model via food ration to the households.
“Subsequently, the teams shall also be visiting other communities and different clusters of persons with disabilities, to provide these relief materials to them.
She also said that at the state level, she will ensure their portion in the palliatives for the States, is adequately set aside for distribution to PWDs in the States.
Speaking further, she indicated that PWDs constitute 15% of the Nigerian population and they represent one of the most vulnerable groups in the country. It is obvious that during a pandemic such as the COVID-19, it will hit them more and that’s why we placed emphasis on palliative measures and working to include them in all Federal government social safety net intervention.
Farouq indicated that the ministry had earlier visited the community in April to distribute Hygiene materials and in the same month, the Ministry hosted a stakeholders meeting with the leadership of Disability community at Army resource centre where she chaired the meeting. The purpose was how the PWDs can benefit from the Federal Government’s interventions aimed at cushioning the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The meeting provided the framework to mitigate the challenges of the persons with disability to implement the Federal Government’s plan as well as the ministry’s roadmap for sustainable mitigation on all matters relating to PWDs. A technical committee was set up to develop an action plan and strategy and as soon as the report of the committee is ready, she promised that the Ministry will take appropriate action to ensure that PWDs are placed in a way that they can send for themselves.
“We are very aware of the issues concerning People With Disabilities has been made a priority of the ministry, the wellbeing and the welfare of PWDs is now our priority, she said.”
The minister informed that the choice of Karamjiji for the flag off is because Karamajiji represents one of the most organised and recognized communities of persons with disabilities.
She lauded President Muhammadu For his love, care and commitment in attending to the issues of persons with disabilities.
It is a demonstration of our care and love to our brothers and sisters with special needs taking into cognisance the debilitating effect of the pandemic, she said.
“Be assured that we are focused on planning and committed to bringing relief and assistance to this very important group.”
She called on leaders of disability community to make judicious use of what has been given to them, as she promised to provide more support so that they can have a means of livelihood.
“That is the most important thing so they can fend for themselves and members of their families.”
Mohammed Danteni speaking on behalf of the Disability colony expressed joy for what has happened and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for remembering PWDs but he ended by drawing the attention of the minister to the deplorable state of the houses at the colony.
The PWDs of different clusters were coming in group of 50 to receive palliatives household by household in an orderly manner.
The items received are a bag of rice, 5litres of Soya Oil, 3kg of sugar, sachets of salt, packs of spaghetti and 6 yards of wraps for women with disabilities.
