By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has partnered with the NEAR Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, to provide food assistance to vulnerable households across the Federal Capital Territory as part of a Ramadan outreach programme aimed at easing the hardship faced by the poor and disaster-affected residents.
Under the initiative, 300 households made vulnerable by various disasters in the FCT are to receive food packages weighing 11 kilograms each, while more than 4,000 other vulnerable groups across the Territory will also benefit from the broader outreach.
In an official signed statement, Head, Public Affairs, FEMD, Nkechi Isa, disclosed that the Director of NEAR Foundation, Mr Abdul Hakem Salaudeen, made this known during a courtesy visit to the Department.
According to Abdul Hakem, the Ramadan outreach is designed to demonstrate empathy, compassion and solidarity with the poor, as well as to ensure that vulnerable families are able to have meals throughout the fasting period.
He explained that the Foundation’s engagement with FEMD is in line with its tradition of visiting key stakeholders to explore opportunities for deeper partnership, shared values and joint programmes that can positively impact vulnerable populations.
“The tradition of NEAR Foundation is to visit our stakeholders to see how we can partner more in terms of programmes and shared values,” he said.
Responding, the Ag. Director General of FEMD, Engr. Abdulrahman Mohammed, commended the NEAR Foundation for its humanitarian gesture and assured the organisation of FEMD’s continued collaboration in initiatives that support vulnerable persons and promote community resilience.
Engr. Abdulrahman further called on public-spirited Nigerians, corporate organisations and philanthropic groups to emulate the NEAR Foundation by extending support to the less privileged, particularly during periods of economic hardship.
He stressed that sustained partnerships between government agencies and non-governmental organisations remain critical to strengthening humanitarian response and improving the welfare of vulnerable communities in the FCT.
The initiative reflects FEMD’s commitment to working with credible partners to alleviate suffering and ensure that no vulnerable household is left behind, especially during significant periods such as the holy month of Ramadan.
