A foremost charity and daw’ah organisation, Faith Unites Muslims Charity Initiatives (FUMCI), has called on the Federal Government to provide incentives for Nigerians, particularly those living in the states that are affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The amir (head) of the organisation, Malam AbdMuiz Zubayr, made the call in Lagos on Tuesday in his assessment of the effects of the stay-at-home order of the government on the citizens.
According to him, many Nigerians, especially residents of Lagos who are largely of little means, are not prepared for the lockdown which, he said, has made feeding difficult for many of them at this period.
He said: “I commend President Muhammadu Buhari, the federal and states’ ministries of health for the preventive measures adopted, especially the decision to lock down Lagos State and Abuja to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
“At FUMCI, we believe the measure will go a long way in checking the spread of the virus and at the same time assist in the detection of new cases.
“However, as the country’s medical team strives to find a cure for the disease, I am urging the Federal Government to address the unexpected burden of needs imposed on many Nigerians by the breakout of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We urge the Federal Government to provide relief packages for vulnerable Nigerians whose daily survival is dependent on their daily efforts but are constrained with the stay-at-home order.
“We have seen this done in some countries, notably the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Therefore, it is not out of place for the Nigerian government to do same for its citizens.”
While commending the Lagos State government for the provision of stimulus packages for Lagos residents, Malam Zubayr alleged that the packages are not evenly distributed.
He said: “Out of the 20 local government areas and 37 LCDAs, only a few are privileged to benefit from the stimulus packages. On our part, as an Islamic non-governmental organisation, we have been able to complement the efforts of the government through our periodic disbursement of funds and materials but there is a limit to what we can do because we are limited by fund.
“In this period of need, we need the government to ensure even distribution of relief packages because of the hardship occasioned by the virus. We pray to Allah to cleanse our land of all afflictions and keep us safe from diseases.”