Delta State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Dr. Martins Okonta has donated food items to cushion the effects of the lockdown necessitated by COVID-19.

Speaking to newsmen during the presentation of the items at his Abavo country home on Friday, Okonta said he was moved by what the vulnerables in the society are going through as a result of the stay-at-home directive occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hon. Okonta, a former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, said it is the duty of well meaning individuals in the society to come to the aid of the vulnerable people in the society, especially during these times that they can’t fend for themselves.

He commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his roles in managing the pandemic in the state and appealed to the people to support government’s effort by staying at home, regular hand washing as well as observing social distancing.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of devastating effects on humanity which nobody envisaged, but the way it has happened, we must rally round our people especially the vulnerable people.

“We are giving out 100 bags of 25kg of rice, 60 cartons of bottled water, and 30 cartons of Indomie noddles and this we have earmarked for the vulnerable people who cannot afford it.

“We are not doing it for the able-bodied persons because they can fend for themselves. But, those very sick, elderly people, persons with disability, those pensioners that are no longer getting any value from their pension and the aged are the beneficiaries.

“As time goes on, we will begin to furnish more palliatives. But in a way, this is what we can contribute for now to help our people in this lockdown period.

“I appeal to our people to stay safe, by staying at home, regular hand washing and keeping social distancing because no matter the amount of money you want to get, it’s only when you’re alive that you can make money.

“I appeal to our people, irrespective of the tension and hardship, they should stay at home as it is the only way to avoid the virus.

“If you go out, you may contact it and the sickness does not have respect for anybody. It attacks the rich and the poor.

“Our dear Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has set up committees in all the LGAs in the state and within the Committee, he has also set up a Committee in all the wards.

“And he has made it very clear that the items should be shared equitably according to the wards, to the unit levels.

“The food should be giving to either the sick, the very aged, the widow or the disable to be distributed among the units in the Ward so that there would be equitable distribution.

“I am donating this now to the Council Chairman of which am a part of the committee, then he will in turn, distribute it to the 129 units in the local government.

“This is just my own widows mite, other well-meaning people from across the constituency will contribute as well.

“We don’t know how long the pandemic will last but we have to bear it by exercising some restraints within this period so that we can survive it because it is only when we are alive that we can add meaning to our lives,”

Receiving the items, Chairman Ika South Local Government Council, Barr. Victor Okoh thanked Hon. Okonta for the donation describing him as an illustrious son of Ika nation.

He noted that the items donated will go a long way in providing succour for the less privileged in the local government area and appealed to other well meaning individuals in the society to come to aid of those who cannot fend for themselves in the period of the lockdown.