The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has begun the distribution of palliatives to persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in the 27 local government areas of Borno State.
During the flagging of the distribution exercise yesterday in Maiduguri, the managing director of NEDC,Mohammed Alkali, said the commission would extend the exercise to the 26 local government areas of the state after profiling the PWDs in the areas.
He said that after the distribution of N15 billion in palliatives to cushion the effect of the removal of the oil subsidy, the commission decided to extend the gesture to those with disabilities in the state so that they could also feel the touch of NEDC.
Alkali said that with the oil subsidy removal and the hardship associated with it, the commission felt that the PWDs were also part of the people living in the North-East region.
Represented by the state coordinator, Engr. Mohammed Umar, Alkali said, “We are flagging off the distribution with MMC since the local government area has been profiled and the number of PWDs ascertained”.
Akali said, “We will extend the gesture to the other 26 local government areas after profiling PWDs there. Each of the beneficiaries will go home with a bag of rice and beans.”