Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Saturday began the distribution of relief materials and food items to the 27 local government areas of the state.
This is part of the efforts to ensure that the global emergency caused by COVID-19 with its attendant economic stagnation does not strangulate the people.
Delivering the items to the Interim Management Committee Chairmen of the various local government areas after flag-off, Uzodimma tasked them to liaise with all political appointees in their domain and ensure that the items get to the vulnerable and less privileged in the communities.
He warned that any act of greed or attempt to share the items to the wrong people would be sanctioned.
The Governor gave the councils a template for the distribution and promised to monitor how the template was complied with or not.
The Governor said: “You must show leadership, what is meant for the people is meant for the people and what is meant for the leaders is meant for the leaders; you must remove any sign of greed no matter how small, this is your first test.”
Uzodimma thanked President Mohammadu Buhari for the support he has given to Imo State through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development that donated one trailer-load of rice and other incentives to the state.
The Governor equally commended individuals and Corporate Organizations that procured some food items and other relief materials to augment the ones provided by the government.
He called on other well meaning citizens of the state to lend support to government especially at this Easter period.
While reiterating that government would continue to expand her programmes as the need arose, Uzodimma enjoined the people to be fervent in prayers and keep faith alive especially during this Easter celebration.
“Our Christian faith must not be encumbered by the present hardships. Whatever we know today about limiting the spread of the corona virus is a mighty Gift from God. We must keep the faith by maintaining the same standards of hygiene and vigilance that has kept our state corona virus-free till now,” Uzodimma said.
Responding on behalf of the Interim Management Committee Chairmen, the IMC Chairman of Oru West local government, Hon. Willie Okolieogwo assured that they would follow to the letters the template provided by the Government to distribute the items.
He promised that the committee would be formidable partners of the state government in the fight against COVID-19 in the state.
All the local governments went home with rice, noodles, groundnut oil, tomato paste, tubers of yam among other items.
One hundred thousand naira (₦100,000.00) cash was also given to each INEC ward in the state to enable the people buy other cooking condiments.