COVID-19: Distribute Palliatives Equitably, Transparently – CAN Tasks FG

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has tasked Federal and State governments on transparent and equitable distribution of palliatives to ease the hardship visited on Nigerians by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking through its President, Reverend Samson Ayokunle, on Thursday, the umbrella body of Christians in the country also called for patience among Nigerians, maintaining that the nation will eventually overcome this globally devastating health challenge.

Rev Ayokunle said though it would be difficult for governments at all levels to reach every poor household nationwide, the process of distributing the palliatives must be open and fair.

“We know the government cannot touch every poor in the society for lack of enough resources, but equal selection of the poor per state with balance in religious persuasions would have done better justice”, the CAN President said in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji.

The statement said: “The CAN boss commends greatly the Federal and State governments for rising up to confront the evil called Coronavirus pandemic. We urge them not to be deter in confronting it headlong until we kick out the evil from our nation completely.

“We further urge the governments to be transparent and inclusive of all regions and religious persuasions in the identification of the poor to which pandemic relief materials and payments are being made available.”

The statement insisted that only demonstrable transparency and accountability on the part of governments can address growing concerns by Nigerians that the process is skewed and dubious.

“Even after the government has explained the mode by which they identified the beneficiaries, many Nigerians, including the National Assembly members, are still really not convinced that the poor around us are the beneficiaries”, the CAN boss lamented.

He however said CAN will continue to pray that government makes “right and inclusive decisions always for our general good”, adding; “I am fully persuaded that very soon, Coronavirus will become history and we shall all have victory over it.”

Further seeking divine intervention for Nigeria in this trying period, Rev Ayokunle said; “Let us intensify prayers for a quick recovery for as many that are recuperating” from the COVID-19 attacks.