By Kayode Idowu, Maiduguri
Residents of Biu, Bayo, Kwaya-kusar and Shani local government area of Borno State have received N80 million palliative to alleviate the suffering of the lockdown ordered by the state government to stem the spread of COVID-19.
The palliative, six truck loads of rice about 360 bags were donated to the people of the four local governments by their representative in the House of Representatives, Hon. Muktar Betara.
The rice put at N80 million, was the first major palliative to be distributed in Borno State, which was totally lockdown on Wednesday night.
Speaking during the kick-off of the distribution in Biu on Friday, Betara said: “There is no better time to come to the aid of the less privileged than now, that is why governments, corporate bodies and privileged individuals are already working round the clock to bring succour to our teeming population whom their livelihood have been adversely affected by the novel Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the global lockdown of cities making live difficult for the people to survive.”
The lawmaker who lamented that the stay at home order has no doubt started taking a toll on the general public, said: “The economies of virtually all the countries of the world have been grossly affected, therefore, there is the need to extend hands of fellowship to those who are worse hit by this measure with some palliatives that will reduce the pains they are going through in this trying times.”
Betara said: “In my usual manner of responding to the needs of my constituent, the good people of Biu, , Bayo, Kwaya kusar and Shani Federal Constituency, I acted swiftly to the plight of his people with six truckloads of rice (3600 bags) which was shared without discrimination.”
He revealed that: “The formular for the distribution of the palliative covers a huge population as the modus operandi adopted by the sharing-committee was very transparent. Numerous associations in the constituency were captured and has collected their shares as stipulated, individuals who are not members of these associations were also not left out of the sharing arrangements.”
He promised to continue to find way of bringing succour to the people of his constituency especially during the lockdown period of COVID-19.