The National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO) on Friday distributed palliatives to residents of Bar Beach in Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area of Lagos State in continuation of its COVID-19 intervention in the council area.
Mr Usman Baba, Managing Director, NETCO, which is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said the palliative was to support the less privileged.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the firm distributed 2kg bag of garri, rice, bags of sachet water and antiseptic soap to 700 residents in Bar Beach area.
The company operates within the council area.
Baba said NETCO had carried out a similar intervention at Iru Community within the same locality.
“NETCO is a small company and we are doing this as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility.
“We are here to support our head office, the NNPC, and the Federal Government by bringing palliatives to the less privileged in the battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Baba lauded the orderly conduct of the residents during the exercise and enjoined them to obey the health advisory and protocols put in place by the authorities to contain the spread of the disease.
“We must continue to do the right thing by maintaining social distancing, wash our hands regularly and listen to information from the government and accredited agencies so that our lives can go back to normalcy,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Isah Lawal, Divisional Police Officer, Victoria Island Division, Bar Beach Police Station, commended NETCO for coming to the assistance of the people in the community during this critical time.
“For me, this exercise is humane because at times like these, you have people who don’t have what it takes to stay at home for three weeks.
“They are daily earners. They eat from hand to mouth but today they feel that they are not alone and that there are some people who are thinking of them.
“This is very compassionate of NETCO and you can see that the people are very happy,” Lawal said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Adewale Odofin, while thanking NETCO for the gesture, called on other organisations to extend support to more Nigerians feeling the impact of the lockdown.
“A lot of people are suffering due to the extension of the lockdown and they need assistance like this to stay alive,” he said. (NAN)
