COVID-19: Prison inmates, orphans, others get Edo govt’s relief materials

…as first lady warns against diversion

Vulnerable persons, including the elderly, prison inmates, widows, and orphans across Edo State, have continued to receive relief materials being distributed by the Edo State Government.

First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, while handing over the relief materials to representatives of the various groups, urged them to resist the temptation of being greedy or giving the items to those who can afford them.

Mrs. Obaseki urged well-to-do Edo residents to emulate the state government’s gesture and lend a helping hand to vulnerable persons around them, adding, “We, as mothers in the state are very grateful to the governor for the massive supply of palliatives procured by the state government and donations received from well-meaning Nigerians. The relief materials are meant for only vulnerable persons and not for those with money to cater for themselves, those who can afford whatsoever they want or feed their families.”

She said the effect of hunger will be worse than COVID-19 if people continue to carry on without looking out for one another, noting, “We are expected to look out for those who cannot feed themselves. What the state government is doing is to show good example to others on what they are supposed to do.

“Everyone who is involved in the distribution of the relief materials should make sure it gets to the persons who are in need no matter the tribe, religion, ethnicity or the party they belong to.”

The items being distributed include bags of rice, bags of beans, garri, noodles, vegetable and palm oil, millet, seasoning, soaps and detergents, among others.

Commissioner for Social Development and Gender Issues, Maria Edeko Esq., explained that the distribution will complement the government’s efforts at cushioning the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable members of the society.

“The items are meant for the elderly, returnees, people living with disabilities, prison inmates, children in correctional centres, those in rehabilitation centres and orphanage homes,” she said.

A representative of the Comptroller, the Nigerian Correctional Service, Edo State Command and Deputy Comptroller of Correction, Imo Ikahokhuese, said: “This is a dream come true and we applaud government for this gesture.”

On his part, the representative of the rehabilitation centres in Edo State, Mr. Omo Orhiavbele said, “This is wonderful. The governor has remembered the weak and vulnerable people that cannot even go out to look for food. God will bless him.”