Lockdown: DPR gives palliatives to the vulnerable, journalists in Ogun

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Abeokuta Field Office, has distributed relief materials to vulnerable stakeholders and journalists in Ogun State as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the lockdown.

The food items were handed over to the leadership of mosques, churches and media houses for onward distribution to the deserving.

The Field Office Operations Controller, Mrs Muinat Bello-Zagi, yesterday said that the gesture was meant to lend helping hands to the vulnerable, as well as to journalists, who she identified as being at the front line of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

Bello-Zagi, who was represented by the Head, Downstream, DPR Abeokuta, Rotimi Fadeyi, asked stakeholders to create an organic food garden in their houses in order to avert impending hunger.

She equally advised residents to adhere strictly to all measures in containing the spread of the virus by staying at home, observing physical distancing, using of face masks and proper washing of hands.

“We urge our stakeholders and people of the state in general to look inwards by having organic food gardens in their houses or in their vicinity to ensure abundance of food. We have started this in our office here in Abeokuta and we want the people to imbibe this culture.

“This is to avert impending hunger that may occur in the country after the coronavirus pandemic,” she said.

The General Manager of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Abeokuta, Mrs Funmi Wakama,  applauded the DPR for giving palliatives to journalists, who she said were often forgotten by the public.

“We are at the front line of the battle against COVID-19, but people tend to forget us. We educate people on prevention. But the people forget us, thinking we are merely doing our jobs. So we thank the DPR for coming to our aid. I want to assure them that we will distribute the items to our staff members who have been at the front line reporting COVID-19 and educating the public,” Wakama said.