Post COVID-19: Palliative distribution to ordinary Nigerians excites Minister of Humanitarian, Sadiya Farouk.

By Abubakar Yusuf

Since the beginning of the health emergency of Corona Virus otherwise known as COVID-19, that ravaged the super powers and developed countries which gradually spread to Aftican continent,Nigerian in particular, it became imperative to introduce a immediate policy that will forestall, as well as mitigate and cushion the effects of both the spread,effects across the Nation.

This developement led to a grand decisions by the Federal government to adopt a well thought out policy, that led to the total lockdown of all boaders, airports and land boarders, restrictions of movements of any sorts, both within and outside the shores of Nigeria, except for those on essential services. 

Goverrment's decision on the lockdown was classified as part of not only health emergency crises,but also may lead to subsequent humanitatian crises,as the office saddled with such responsibility had no choice than to be proactive as it swing into action .

This developement further put to test the transparent leadership qualities of the current Minster, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouk,who succesfully criss cross the entire country dolling out palliatives, with the less priviledge and the vulnerable as the main targets.

Before her Ministry's decision to embark on mass distribution of palliatives to the vulnerable,a well articulated template was agreed in collaboration with some Federal agencies and the state governments, which included the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Abuja. 

In recent times,you can not divorce such gigantic assignment organised by goverrment Ministry,agencies or prarastatals not shrouded in some shaddy or sharp practices,but for Sadiya's humanitatian and disaster management template and design,it excited Nigerians as the vulnerable at the grass roots, got was was provided by the Federal government coordinated by her direct intervention.

Unpertubed by the growing emergency situation that culminated into the one month lockdown of the country,she doused the growing tension of likely resistance from the populace to excitements on the faces of the needy,having displayed good leadership traits worthy of emulation.

The Humanitatian and Disaster Management Minister, went round the 36 states of Nigeria, that include the Federal Capital Territory, along with it's officials, to embark on judiciously enhanced distribution process that restored confidence of governance in Nigerians. 

This initiated template of the Ministry manned by her high level and experience instincts, even survived on the oppositon party states ,so much so that news of diversion or other untoward actions that usually characterise such exercise, could not find it's way to the media from goverment detractors.

Driving his new intiatives from the previous experiences,where relief materials are mostly find in Nigeria markets and the affluence homes, top public officers and political appointees, Sadiya's branded palliatives of COVID-19 items where not traceable to any minor or major markets in the country,except the needy,less priviledge and ordinary Nigerians homes, who queed during the exercise to assess the provided items.

Her Ministry detonated the earlier growing political statements, that some of the items donated to states,got to it's destination,but a politically motivated position that some were expired and not fit for human consumption, disappeared to the thin air,soon after the distribution to the anxious vulnerable took centre stage in various states across the country.

The positive effects of the Ministry's palliatives was felt even after the renewal of the two weeks total lockdown, by extension of another two weeks,as the targeted Nigerians heave a sigh of relief, from the government measures to provide basic items to the massess, that reduce to the barest minimum the effects of the total lockdown.

To drive home the possible multiplier  effects on the people,the supervision and beneficiaries of the palliatives items out of the transparent policy adoption, took days to access the empowerment items, to their various homes, devoid of sharp practices and any other unpopular activities.

This developement by the Ministry under her supervision, revert the policy on partial lockdown and the attendant curfew as a normal phenomenon, to ordinary Nigerians, after the two weeks,and became business as usual even when it was review for another one month. 

Sadiya's initiatives addressed the attendant humanitatian crises that would have preceded the ongoing partial lockdown,as the crises of emergency health situation would have compounded the current situation,if it was allowed to rear it's head without her prompt attention through goverment intervention.

Her template suppressed not only humanitatian crises envisage,but brought about the government taking the bull by the horn, through identifying and addressing it's primary responsibility.

Sadiya's modest approach has again remind us of the crude days of distribution of essential commodities and other goverment succour,were the military are engaged,through application of force and physical disciplinary actions, to control the heads of crowd.

She adopted ticketing policy that was distributed to beneficiaries from house to house,cluster to cluster,area to area,discouraged double ration and hoodlums that would disrupt the exercise, with the presence of some civil defence officials land local vigilante groups to control both individuals and the crowd.

With this,the Humanitatian,Disaster and Social Developement Ministry was able to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and addressed the effects of the disease through, various availement to improve the living standards and return to various businesses.

Abubakar Yusuf Is A Media Consultant.