Community Excellence and Development Initiative (CEDI), a non-governmental organisation, on Monday said it remained committed to empowering 500,000 vulnerable Nigerians amidst COVID-19 pandemic.
The Project Officer, Health and Education of CEDI, Betty Essien, made this known in a statement in Abuja.
According to Essien, the aim is to complement the Federal Government’s effort to support Nigerians who need help, especially on COVID-19 pandemic, to reduce the impacts.
“CEDI cannot be silent in this trying time in the country and the world at large.
“CEDI plans to reach at least 500,000 vulnerable Nigerians with information on COVID-19 and provide relief materials especially efficient stoves and foodstuffs.
“To promote clean environment and reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic even beyond 2020.
“CEDI calls on concerned individuals and institutions to lend a helping hand to those in need to make the world a better place even after the pandemic,’’ she noted.
Essien explained the donations of N107,794 by CEDI’s friends and partners in Australia, U.K. and U.S.A., to be part of the Emergency Support for COVID-19 Project.
She said that the organisation also empowered them with workshop and donation of items.
The items include face masks, efficient stoves, briquettes, rice, beans, cassava floor (gari), spaghetti, packets of magi cube, groundnut oil and tomatoes.
Essien said that the project was carried out in Agwan-Tiv community ACO Estate, Lugbe, Abuja to support 80 most vulnerable households, to ameliorate the impact of the pandemic and reduce its spread.
According to her, the 80 beneficiaries comprising men and women are mostly widowers and widows and are being supported through the life-saving project.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to the death of individuals in many countries including Nigeria.
“About 40 per cent of Nigerians live below poverty line of about of 381.75 dollars, equivalent of N137, 430 per year; therefore support not just to individuals, but households,” she added.
She, however, decried global lockdown of business operations, particularly in Nigeria.
According to her, it has negatively impacted on daily-wage workers, especially women who depend on limited financial savings to survive within rural communities.