The Management Committee Chairman, Hon. Barrister Ezekiel Mandyau, has flagged-off the distribution of palliatives and relief materials to the poorest of the poor members of the society across Barkin-Ladi to cushion the effects of COVID-19. The flag-off ceremony took place at the Council Chambers of the Local Government Secretariat in Barkin-Ladi. Hon. Barrister Ezekiel Mandyau who is the Chairman of the Central Committee of Barkin-Ladi COVID-19, said the aim is to reach 20 poorest households in each of the 147 polling units across the Local Government, translating to about 2,940,000 households which has also captured the IDP's camps, the physically challenge persons, CAN and JNI. The items distributed include maize, Maggi, salt, Close-up, Rice, hand wash, Spaghetti, Tin tomato, Yam, Garri, Beans, Facemask among others. And five thousand naira (#5,000) cash to each polling unit for the transportation of the said items.
He noted that, the items were made up of contributions received from the State Government as well as those supplied by the Barkin-Ladi Government Council. The Chairman said, his administration is mindful of the hardship occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic, hence the decision to set up the palliative committee to strategically come up with modalities and undertake the distribution to ensure that the items get to the intended beneficiaries without cutting corners. Barrister Mandyau further reinterated his administration willingness continue to spare no effort in ensuring the welfare of the people through the formulation of policies, programmes as well as initiatives that will give the people a sense of belonging and bring Government closer to them to the ordinary man. He noted that since the palliative will not get to every citizen of the Local Government, those that are privileged to have should be generous to share with neighbours in the spirit of brotherliness. He said the palliatives will get to the intended beneficiaries irrespective of political parties and religion without any form of segregation. His Royal Highness Da Gwom Rwei Gwol, Da Edward G. Mashat and Chairman Sensitization and mobilization Committee of Barkin-Ladi COVID-19 taskforce subcommittee, assured the Council Chairman of the committee members resolved to ensure that the palliatives get to over the over 2,940 less poorest households across the Local Government. At the ceremony, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Council in their benevolence, donated food items + facemask aimed at assisting 50 households in locality. Items donated includes; One bag of Rice, Beans, salt and 100 facemask. The Council Chairman while receiveing the items on behalf of the Council thanked the corps members for their thougthfulness and generosity to the people of Barkin-Ladi, noting that the gesture will not be forgotten. A total of 147 polling units (2,940 households) of the 20 electoral wards of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area have each received 2 bags of maize, 1 cartoon of Maggi, 2 bags of salt, half cartoon of Close-up, 4 bags of 50kg rice, half gallon of hand wash, 1 cartoon of spaghetti, 5 tins of tomato, 2 bags of 25kg of rice, 20 yam tubbers, Garri, beans and 450 facemask. The ceremony ended in praises as the beneficiaries couldn't hide their joy. Dung Daweng Pam, Media team Coordinator Mandyau Mandate Group