COVID-19 response: Anambra commences distribution of bags of Rice to the elderly

As part of the economic stimulus package announced by Governor Willie Obiano, to cushion the effect of coronavirus pandemic on Ndi Anambra, the state government has commenced the distribution of bags of rice, bags of salt and cartons of tomatoes to the elderly in the state, through their various communities.

The distribution commenced at Governor Obiano’s country home in Aguleri.

Our correspondent reports that the event commenced with 15 communities, represented by their Presidents General witnessed the distribution of 200 bags of rice to each of the 179 communities, to be shared to the elderly in their areas.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Greg Obi performed the function on behalf of the Governor, where he advised Ndi Anambra to adhere to the preventive measures and directives issued by the NCDC, the World Health Organization and other health stakeholders, the world over.

Chief Obi explained that government has issued guidelines to ensure that the rice gets to people that need it, as each community submitted a list of two hundred people to the Project Monitoring and Management Office starting from the oldest in the communities.

On precautionary measures to ensure that the rice gets to the people it was meant for, he explained that the Presidents General through ASATU, members of House of Assembly, woman leaders of each community and the Project Monitoring and Management Office, among others, are on ground to monitor the process.

Also speaking, the Director of the State Project Monitoring and Management Office, Mr. Obumneme Akunyili who explained that their duty is to ensure quality control, especially for government projects, noted that they have several teams that will follow up to ensure that the items get to the right persons, adding that their people who are part of the process of distribution of the items, will also counter-sign at the end of the process.

While appreciating the Governor on behalf of the communities, the national President Anambra State Association of Town union ASATU, Chief Alex Onukwue commended the State government for thinking it wise to introduce such measure to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary, Joint Account Allocation Committee, Mr. Confidence Azodo, Special Adviser, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs. Vera Okonkwo, among others, witnessed the exercise.