Abuja residents who receive food items that are not fit for consumption in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) palliative programme are free to return them, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu has said.
Aliyu who disclosed this on Friday when she inspected the palliatives for Kabusa, Garki, Wuse and City Centre wards in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), said returned item would be replaced.
The palliative measures were put in place to assist residents who were facing challenges during the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.
FCT will have the lockdown partially lifted on Monday after over 30 days, the authorities have assured residents.
According to Aliyu, “if you find any food unfit for consumption, you are at liberty to notify the chairman (of the council area) and such material will be replaced at the expense of the supplier”.
Represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Prof. Muhammad Usman, she urged residents to report officially when they receive items that were below approved standard.
“These materials were brought together by several suppliers, but as in every production process, you cannot guaranty that each of them will be problem free,” she added.
She disclosed that each of the four wards would be given 3,000 bags of rice and 3,000 bags of condiments.
Aliyu charged councilors representing each ward to be transparent by ensuring that the items got to the individuals that were targeted.
She reiterated that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) were the responsibility of the administration, adding that arrangements were on to provide a second phase of the palliative to them.
In his response, the Chairman of AMAC, Alhaji Abdullahi Candido thanked the FCTA for the successful distribution of palliatives in Orozo, Karshi, Karu and Nyanya wards.
He said: “The councilors, who distribute the palliatives, should to bear in mind that they have a name to protect. We are not just councilors today, we can be anything tomorrow, but we can destroy that name with our present position.
“Don’t take what does not belong to you. The performance yesterday was about 80 percent, but I want you to improve on that rating,” he appealed.
