It was a cheerful moments for Journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) when the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT, rolled palliatives comprising of various food items to its members to assist them and their households during the lockdown period ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The good gesture was also as part of efforts to ameliorate the impact of the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world.
Some of the Journalists who couldn’t hold their excitements were seen trooping in and out of the NUJ Secretariate to pick up their packs.
A journalist in Abuja , Alhaja Ayoni Agbabiaka, said the good gesture is a sign that this executive knows it’s onion, it’s proactive and responsive.
She said with the palliatives, it will go along way to sooth the pains of its members during the lockdown period.
According to her, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche-led exco is worthy. He has shown that the plight of the journalists in this trying time is his concern.
“We wish media proprietors and other organisations will emulate and support this noble cause. Journalists are endangered species and need all the support they can get to alleviate the pains of Covid-19.
The Chairman of the council, Emmanuel Ogbeche, had on April 6 inaugurated the committee with the task to source intervention for its members in the frontline covering COVID-19 activities across FCT.
The Chairman of the council’s Committee on COVID-19 Interventions and Awareness, Osaretin Osadebamwen said a total of 350 of the media practitioners listed as first batch of beneficiaries had so far collected their items ranging from 25kg bags of rice, noodles and yams.
“The committee wishes to assure all members of the union whose need assessment were collated through a survey via online that their items would be delivered sooner than later.
“We are expected to take delivery of more palliative items from men and organizations of goodwill as the day progresses,’’ he said.
The committee chairman said Chief James Umeh, founder of Unubiko Foundation, Vastovers Stemordz Limited, Joy Osaro Onaiwu Foundation and Samson Itodo of YIAGA Africa provided the items that were distributed.
“Sequel to this, the committee is obliged to express its profound pleasure and gratitude to the show of love and philanthropy by the donors.
“As our members go about their duties, in these difficult times of our national life, we are firmly aware of the danger that lies ahead.
“We, therefore, solicit the compassion of well-meaning Nigerians to assist in whatever way to keep the morale of Journalists in the FCT boosted as they continue to keep the public informed on activities in tackling the COVID-19,’’ Osadebamwen said.
It would be recalled that for the past four weeks, FCT and other states have been under either Federal Government or State Government lockdowns.
The President said these steps were necessary and overall, have contributed to slowing down the spread of COVID nineteen in Nigeria.
