By David Ngobua
The Founder and president of Para-Soccer Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Misbahu Lawan Didi has commended the Federal Capital Territory Administration for providing COVID-19 palliatives to members of his federation and other residents with disabilities in the Federal Capital Territory. Didi who doubles as the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, National Disabled leader said that he approached Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu who graciously approved 3,000 palliative packs for distribution to his members.
He also said in line with the minister’s directive, a nine-man committee made up of people with physical disabilities was constituted and is presently distributing the palliatives. Didi explained further that the palliatives are for all persons with disabilities in the FCT as he reiterated that it has nothing to do with party affiliation.
“I spoke to the Minister of State for FCT on the need for people with disabilities to be given some palliatives to cushion the present hardship and she graciously approved my request. “She asked me to set up a committee to handle the distribution of the palliatives. After we set up the committee, she released to us 3,000 palliative packages which we are sharing to our members. “The committee has been to kwali, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari and some parts of AMAC like Karu, Karshi-Orozo axis, Jabi covered PWDs in Asokoro, Wuse, Garki, Maitama, Mabushi, Gwagwa, Karimo etc.
Today(Friday), the committee will attend to those in Karamajiji and other settlements like Lugbe. “We want Karamajiji to be among the last because they are the largest with as much as five hundred to six hundred members. Already I have arranged for space inside the MKO Abiola stadium for them to receive their items under a very orderly and peaceful atmosphere. “We want to thank the Hon. Minister for promptly responding to our call for help. You can imagine what would have become of us, if we were to be lumped with people without disabilities,” he said.
The Para-Soccer president also called on other states to emulate the good example set by the Federal Capital Administration. He said whatever help that is extended to people with disabilities would go a long way in reducing the hardship unleashed on them by the coronavirus pandemic. “What the FCT administration has done is unprecedented. We only appeal to other states to emulate the FCT. We are also calling on corporate bodies to remember persons with disabilities in this trying moment,” said Lawan Didi.
