As economic hardship and rising hunger continue to affect millions of Nigerians, a non-governmental organisation, Port Harcourt City One Love Movement, has distributed free food and drinks to about 11,000 indigent residents across Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The humanitarian outreach, tagged Operation Feed the Needy, was carried out over the weekend in several communities within the state capital, including Old Town, Borikiri, Okrika Waterside, Creek Road, Diobu, D-Line, GRA Phase 2, and Trans-Amadi/Old Slaughter.
Popular Isaac Boro Park served as the central distribution point for beneficiaries in the Diobu axis.
Speaking during the exercise, the leader of the group, Idaere Gogo Ogan, said the initiative was aimed at extending love, compassion and support to vulnerable residents grappling with the current economic realities in the country.
According to him, while some Nigerians are still able to afford three meals daily, many others struggle to get even one decent meal.
Ogan explained that the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement was established about eight years ago to foster friendship, brotherhood, community development and support for the less privileged in society.
He noted that the latest feeding exercise was made possible through contributions from members of the organisation and other well-meaning individuals committed to helping the poor.
“On the platform, we have close to 260 persons who contributed to this effort. We also have government officials on the platform. We are responsible citizens and we understand that being privileged comes with responsibility,” he said.
“If you can still afford three square meals daily in this period of economic hardship, then you have a duty to support those who are poor and desperate in society.”
Ogan disclosed that since the initiative began six years ago, the group had provided meals to over 61,000 persons across different editions of the programme.
“We started this exercise about six years ago and the least number of persons we have fed at every outing is 10,000. Today alone, we targeted 11,000 persons,” he stated.
“The reports reaching us from the various locations show that the exercise was successful. We are also using this opportunity to encourage other individuals and groups to support the needy in society.”
To ensure smooth distribution across the city, members of the organisation were divided into five operational teams — Alpha, Bravo, Charly, Delta and Jolly squads.
The Jolly Squad, which handled the Diobu axis, reportedly spent more than four hours distributing food and drinks to beneficiaries, including children, youths and elderly residents.
Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the organisers for the intervention.
One of them, Victoria Udoh, thanked members of the group for their kindness and prayed for greater blessings upon the organisation.
