UN support three Abuja area councils with $1.1m for COVID-19 palliatives 

To cushion the effect of COVID-19 on residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has flagged off the distribution of palliatives and cash transfer to three Abuja Area Councils with the sum of $1.1million. The area councils are Abuja Municipal (AMAC), Bwari and Gwagwalada. 

The palliative include the donation of N14, 000 and 75,000kg of grains from the Federal Strategic Grain Reserve to 15,000 households in the FCT. To ease transfer of the fund, account was opened for beneficiaries in a commercial bank. 

The Country Director, WFP, Paul Howe, during the flag off of the palliative distribution in Kalamajiji community under AMAC, said the UN agency in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory would be distributing palliatives to the beneficiaries within a two-month period.

He disclosed that WFP, with assistance from Switzerland government, plans to assist half a million people worst-hit by the pandemic in COVID-19 hotspots in the cities of Kano, Abuja and Lagos.

Expressing worry over the growing hunger caused by the pandemic, Howe said WFP has been supporting the country to achieve zero hunger by 2030.

He noted that aside providing cash and food assistance, it was important to ensure the sustainability of the programme. 

To ensure the sustainability of the programme, he said beneficiaries identified would be included in the National Social Register.
 
The Chief of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga-kupi, commended the gesture saying it would go a long way to alleviate the suffering of the people.