An Abia-based Philanthropist, Mr David Udochukwu has on Tuesday, donated various food items as palliatives to support the people of Ajata N’igu community in Oboro, Ikwuano LGA of Abia State.

ABN TV gathered that the donations were aimed at cushioning the impact of the lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

David Udochukwu stated that it was his way of giving back to society, especially with the hardship associated with the lockdown.

“Since the beginning of the lockdown, my heart has been bleeding. We have heard about the government palliatives but a lot of people have cried out that they have not been able to receive any palliative.

“So, we said to ourselves there is something we can do to help our society and assist the government.

Read Also: We Have Secured 1,300-Bed Spaces To Isolate Evacuees – FG

“We are doing this because we have come to realize that the greatest illness in the world is an empty stomach. If you want to reduce the number of sick people in the world, you have to give them food to eat, because even hunger kills faster than the Coronavirus.

“So, that is why we are doing this and we will continue as long as we get support from other people and from the government,” he said

Udochukwu further expressed excitement at the community leaders who turned out to receive the donations, stressing that “today, I feel so excited and this gives me a sense of fulfilment and a sense of belonging, reaching out to people and they are happy just for food.

“This was what motivated me and with the support of everybody, we can do better to develop society.

“Gone are the days when we depended on the government, we don’t have to depend on the government anymore.

“We have to create something out of nothing to help young people to become self-reliant in the 21 century,” he added.

He also tasked Nigerian leaders to set perspectives and create enabling environment for entrepreneurs and philanthropists and empower them to do more for the country.

Responding, the King of the community, HRH Eze Larry Ogbonna expressed delight at the donations. and prayed to God for more support, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

The Federal Government says it has secured a total of 1,300-bed spaces for the isolation of Nigerians abroad willing to be repatriated into the country amid the pandemic.

According to a statement by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed this at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 daily press briefing on Monday in Abuja.

The PUNCH reports that the minister had said the countrymen would be placed on compulsory isolation for 14 days upon landing in the country.

He had added that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control would oversee the isolation process and test them for coronavirus at the end of the period before they are allowed to mix freely with the public which is why the 1,300-bed spaces were secured.

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Speaking on Monday, Onyeama said all Nigerians abroad willing to come home would be brought back if there were enough bed spaces at isolation centres in the country.

“We have secured 300 beds in Lagos and 1,000 in Abuja, the governor of Lagos has been outstanding in his support, he has done a great job and his leadership quality is exemplary,” he said.

He explained that the government was in the process of repatriating Nigerians abroad who were willing to return and Emirates Airlines had indicated interest to bring them back to Nigeria.

He added that the airline would operate on May 6, to bring Nigerians abroad back to the country and the returnees would be the first batch to be brought from abroad.

The National Youth Coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Usman Okai Austin, has urged the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello to pay workers their remunerations without delay.

Austin, who is the spokesperson of Wada/Aro Campaign Council, said the fasting period was not a time to slash or withhold workers’ salaries because that will be “tantamount to wickedness and inhumane.”

Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, Austin wondered why Bello was planning to pay workers half salaries when there is no established case of COVID-19 in the State.

According to Austin: “Since there is no case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kogi State resulting in stiff lockdown, one wonders why Bello is planning to pay workers half salary,” stressing that such is “criminal and extortion.”

Austin noted that before the 2019 November election, Yahaya Bello promised that percentage payment or owing workers that were prevalent in the entire State would stop “but today he is reinventing the same ignoble practice.”

The PDP Youth Leader advised labour leaders in the state to immediately seek national support should the governor perfect his plans and resort to intimidation and harassment.

Read Also: Bill Gates Offered House Of Reps $10m Bribe For Speedy Passage Of Compulsory Vaccine Bill – CUPP Alleges

He enjoined them not to be compromised by the Governor who is known throughout the country for owing workers.

The PDP youth leader wondered why the governor who is a Muslim should resort to depriving people their entitlements in a sacred month of Moslem fasting that encourages ZAKAT.

He challenged Governor Bello to declare Kogi workers’ wage bill and stop claiming allocation shortfall as a reason for non or part payment.

“It is worthy of note that other state governments are paying complete and regular salaries received from the same national allocation.

“The Kogi State governor who spent months in a protracted workers’ screening exercise upon assuming office in 2016, is expected to have stabilized the state workforce and wage bill by now to ease regular salary payments.

“Kogi stands as a state in the country with the highest number of mineral resources with the capacity to pay her workers regularly from Internally Generated Revenues. However, these gold-mine opportunities in the state are not effectively tapped into by the government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello,” he said.