FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION (FCTA) FLAGS OFF PHASE 111 OF ITS COVID 19 PALLIATIVES DISTRIBUTION
REPORTS
CELINE NKIRU OKORO (Abuja) May 22, 2020
As the world looks forward to the 2020 Eid-ell-Fitri celebrations to mark the end of the thirty (30) day Ramadan (Muslim) fast on May 25 and 26, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Hajiya (Dr.) Ramatu Tijani Aliyu yesterday at The Eagle Square, Abuja flagged off the third Phase of the COVID -19 Palliatives for distribution to the most vulnerable indigenes and residents of the six Area councils that comprise the FCTA under the full glare of civil society organizations, the Media and Chairmen of the Six Area Councils in the FCTA.
In this phase, 3000 bags of ten kilograms of rice and 3000 bags of condiments will be shared to three thousand households in each of the six Area councils in the FCTA effectively targeting 18, 000 households.
This initiative according to the Honourable Minister is aimed at easing the negative impact of the COVID -19 locked down on the most vulnerable groups to enable them to join in the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations.
It is on record that the first confirmed case of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria was announced on February 27 2020 when an Italian citizen in Lagos tested positive to the SARS CoV-2 virus. Subsequently, other cases were confirmed on March 9 and 17 2020 in Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory respectively.
On March 28 2020, President Mohammadu Buhari announced the total lockdown of the three affected states as a containment strategy to reduce and perhaps prevent the community spread of the dreaded CORONA virus.
Expectedly, the locked-down led to unprecedented disruptions in global, national, and community supply chains with massive cancellation of all crowd events including religious, sporting, and entertainment outings. The lockdown prohibited movements of persons in many countries, leading to a total ban on local and intercontinental travels, restrictions across air routes, as well as inter and intra-city travels with severe consequences to livelihood.
Hit are operators of various transport businesses including okada riders, taxi drivers and Keke napep drivers, etc. Also affected are artisans such as carpenters, Hair dressers, tailors and fashion designers, vulcanizers, bricklayers, and laborers whose businesses have had to remain shut down for almost two months.
To ameliorate the negative impact of the locked-down on vulnerable groups within the federal capital territory, the FCTA COVID -19 Tasks force team was set up under the leadership of the Minister of FCTA Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu with the mandate to develop strategies and interventions to cushion the negative effect of the locked down on the poor and most vulnerable persons within the FCTA.
The first phase of the distribution of COVID – 19 palliatives in the six area councils targeting 168,000 households was flagged off on April 17 2020.
The gaps identified in the first phase of palliatives distribution led to the second phase that targeted 50,000 households. This included all those that were not captured in the first phase such as members of the FCT Traditional Rulers Council, Heads of Religious groups, Youth organizations, women groups, and security agencies. Important in this phase were the 287 widows from various military barracks within the FCTA including 7 Guards Battalion, Lungi Barracks, 102 Guards Battalion, Zuma Barracks, 176 Guards Barracks, Gen. A.O Azazi Barracks Gwagwalada, 177 Guards Battalion, Shitu Alao Barracks Keffi, and Guards Brigade Garrison and Mambilla Barracks, Asokoro, Abuja. Also impacted in this category were some members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Civil society organizations. Items distributed included Rice, Indomie, Gala, Soft Drinks, and Water.
Visibly seen today at the Eagle square Abuja were five trailer loads of Rice and condiments neatly packed in large FCTA COVID 19 Palliative bags. The trucks were opened for inspection and sighting by the Honorable Minister, members of civil society organizations, and the media. The five trucks are part of twelve trailer load of Rice and condiments that will be delivered two each at the six area councils within FCTA.
In fielding questions from journalists, the minister explained that with each phase of the palliative distribution the FCTA Taskforce on COVID -19 have had to improve on their processes and systems. Part of this, is the deliberate involvement of civil society organizations to lead the monitoring and evaluation of the distribution process and report their findings objectively to the task force.
The minister affirmed that the involvement of civil society organizations and the media in the distribution process will improve effectiveness and lead to increased impact in the service delivery. It will help in ensuring that the palliatives reach the people for which they were meant for in our society – the poor and the most vulnerable.
Besides, COVID -19 has underscored the need for a comprehensive database of vulnerable people within the FCTA. More than ever before, there is the need to know who they are, where they live or reside, and their degree of poverty and vulnerabilities. This knowledge we believe will inform planning and effective policy formulation to address in sustainable ways the issues of vulnerabilities systematically within the FCTA.
The chairmen of all the six area councils were challenged and tasked by the Honourable Minister and the Civil Society groups present not to see or use this palliative as a political scorecard or limit it to indigenes alone, but rather it should provide a veritable opportunity for each area council to forth with develop a comprehensive social protection register of all vulnerable persons within their area council so that over time their challenges and vulnerabilities will be solved in sustainable ways through constructive policy development and programmings..
A BRIEF ABOUT FCTA:
“The Federal Capital Territory also known as Abuja was created on 3rd February 1976 as the Seat of Government for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. True to its name, the over 8000 square kilometers of land on which FCT stands, was deliberately mapped at the center of Nigeria from the East, West, North & South. It is Nigeria’s center of unity and the melting pot of our federation.
Abuja is home to all Nigerians. It houses all Federal Institutions, including the federal legislature, the judiciary as well as the executive represented by over 40 Ministries, 300 federal Agencies, and 150 parastatals. It also houses all the Diplomatic Missions, International Development Partners, and bilateral relations that Nigeria is a signatory to.
Abuja is managed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with an estimated population of 6million comprising 44% men, 45% women, and 15% children. It is bounded by Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa states in Nigeria.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration is headed by a Federal Minister, Mallam Musa Bello Muhammad and a Minister of State for FCT Hajia (Dr.) Ramatu Tijani Aliyu who also doubles as the head of COVID 19 and gender-related departments within FCTA. It has six area councils/ local government authority that includes AMAC, kuje, Kwali, Abaji, Bwari & Gwagwalada.
Seven secretariats deal with the various developmental and administrative management of the FCT. Four secretariats impact directly on social protection systems, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. These include Education, Agriculture, Health, and Social Development.
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