As the world continue to battle with the economic hardship created by the ravaging and deadly Coronavirus Disease, otherwise known as COVID- 19, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria have distributed food items worth millions of naira to the poor and vulnerable within Ojokoro Area, Ijaiye in Lagos State.
The food items were distributed to over 500 families by the Humanity First International Nigeria Branch; a non-governmental organization founded by Ahmadiyya Community saddled with the responsibility of providing humanitarian services to the people affected by natural disasters.
Other activities of Humanity First International include women empowerment, knowledge for life, gift of sight, water for all, medical services, disaster service, food for life, orphan care, among others. The organization has been firmly established in 52 countries.
The Amir (National Head) of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria Alh.(Barr.) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, represented by the Naib Amir (Deputy National Head) Finance and Administration Alh.(Engr.) Mufadhil Bankole at the handing over of the food items to Humanity First, enjoined Nigerians to be law-abiding, obey the stay at home directives and implement all other precautionary measures outlined by the government and health authorities to halt the spread of the pandemic.
He said the continuous provision of palliatives to the poor should be the social responsibility of government at all levels as well as well-meaning Nigerians, groups, and organizations in order to cushion the effects of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which has now affected over 180 countries in the world with more than two million people infected.
The Muslim organisation also donated food items and face masks to the Nigerian Union of Journalists as a mark of recognition of the tremendous works of the media in sensitising and enlightening the public on the pandemic. The items were received by the Chairman Nigerian Union of Journalists Lagos State, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, who later appreciated the kind gesture of the Muslim body.
Alh. Bankole further disclosed that the local branches of the Muslim Community across Nigeria had earlier provided food items and relief materials to the vulnerable at the grassroots.