In Nigeria history overtime,during crises,both human and natural phenomenon,records have not shown government desire to dole out succour to the massess to mitigate the effects of the situation,with particular reference to the global Health emergency of COVID-19.
We had had the experience of the damaging effects of Yellow fever,Ebola scourge and others that ravaged Nigeria, that no Goverment in the previous dispensation has provided any form of intervention, to reduce the damaging effects on the lives of Nigerian citizens.
Aside corporate intervention to relive the economy and the production sectors of the country, Governments from independent, untill the current dispensation,never thought out a plan to bring to the table the idea of bringing basic necessities of life to the downtrodden in the society,affected by the ravaging global pandemic like COVID-19,that triggered a total lockdown of all movements and critical sectors of our economy.
But in the current order,the intitiaves of the current administration champion by the Humanitatian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Developement Minister,Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouk had paid off to every average Nigerian homes,that saved to a great deal ,the likely Humanitatian crises that would have arise from the effects of the scourge, and the needed decisions of Goverment actions.
This decisions to carry out a wholistic measure of distribution of essential items like rice,garri,corn,and other essentials across the country, including areas ravaged by Boko Haram insurgents,cattle rustling, banditry, kidnappings and all forms of social vices,deserve commendation to the position of self installed Civil Society Organisation like Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Projects (SERAP), that juxtapose the expectations of the generalty of the masses, both in Nigeria and world over.
The Non-Governmental Organisation,prominently known for its struggle to equate the widen gap between the poor and the rich,opportuned and unopportuned, priviledge and the less priviledge in the society,was overriden by mere observation,without in-depth knowledge of the generally acceptable and embraced program of distribution of palliatives, across the country by the Humanitatian Affairs Ministry.
It’s decision on the generally acceptable programs of palliatives by the Humanitatian Affairs Ministry is anti people and has sent a wrong signals to average Nigerians, and the general public that, the once credible humanitatian body, had being overriden by inordinate decisions, not against the actors that ensured crises free environment during the health emergency and possible lockdown,but against the massess they have used as an emblem to represent.
It’s decision to approach the court was anti people,unpopular, unacceptable,needless and counter productive and a departure from the position of the people of Nigeria, who have already expressed satisfaction with the house to house,area to area,town to town,village to village,local government to local government and states to states distribution of the goverment palliatives to Nigerians.
This decision was already subject of discussion and encouragement from many prominent Civil Society Organisations, Corporate bodies and well meaning Nigerians to the new style and generally acceptable leadership intitiaves, piloted by the Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouk in the new Ministry.
Goverrments at all levels was excited the popular decision under the Ministry to address the possible humanitatian,food and drought crises,that would have metamorphosed into any unforeseen developement across the country.
SERAP’s decision to engage the Ministry was a mere distraction and efforts in futility as notable NGO’s like CALSER and CRW among many others had pat the Minister’s decision and wisdom to embark on the generally acceptable and transparent program, beneficial to many ordinary Nigerians.
No doubt SERAP’s campaign of calumny hidden under the guise of accountability and transparency had attracted a lot of condemnation, as well as an encouragement to a more people oriented programs by the new Ministry.
It is high time, Non-Governmental and Civil Society Groups redesign their programs that will genuinely bring on board policies and programs that will protect the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
For Sadiya Umar-Farouk, Humanitatian Affairs, Disaster Management Minister,it is more accolades,for her singular effrots that addressed the one month total lockdown,the current period of eased lockdown, and post COVID-19 era in Nigeria.
Written By Abubakar Yusuf,A Media Consultant From Abuja.