By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Government has said it would commence distribution of the 50 tonnes of dates donated by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Affairs and Povey Alleviation, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan who stated that it is to improve the wellbeing of displaced person , also gave the assurance after the handing over of the items from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony in Abuja, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa explained that the donation of the food items was an extension of the long-standing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Ambassador Lamuwa, said that the 50 tonnes dates were meant for the distribution to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and those that the Ministry deems appropriate.
He said , “As Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, you know where it punches most. For us as a Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we liaise with the Saudi Government, we received these cartons, 50 tonnes of dates.”
“And this is a formal handing over to say we have delivered our message and we received them with all gratitude to the people of Saudi Arabia.”
Also , speaking on the existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Lamuwa noted that the know the relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia goes beyond donations.
“We have had engagements both at the political and at the business partnerships.”
“So, this is just a gesture that was originally supposed to be delivered during Ramadan. We all know the tradition of taking dates during Ramadan.”
“But because of the logistics and the rate at which they were distributing country by country, perhaps maybe in alphabetical order, before it gets to Nigeria the month of Ramadan had ended.”
“So, we are just getting them some weeks after, ideally we would have gotten these during Ramadan.”
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan on behalf of the management and staff of the Ministry for this wonderful gesture; for being the bridge for this particular item to be delivered to the Ministry for onward distribution to the needy within the camps and outside the camps.
“We will make sure that the distribution is properly done and the beneficiaries receive the items. We will not disappoint,” Enitan said.
