The Nigeria Company (NIGCOY) 4 ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) has continued to render more humanitarian services to vulnerable Gambian communities across the length and breadth of the country.
The latest of its streak of assistance comes in the form of palliatives, as a complement to Gambia government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The officials disclosed that the palliatives, which are specifically meant for vulnerable communities affected by the lock-down measures as a result of the pandemic, are in the form of food items including rice, spaghetti, vegetable oil, sugar, milk, and tin tomatoes. These latest donations were given to Al-Jawuhri Orphanage, Home in Wulinkama and Sheikh Ousaiman Quranic School in Farato.
The NIGCOY 4 ECOMIG Mission in The Gambia arrived in the country on 23rd March 2019 under the auspices of ECOWAS with the mandate to assist The Gambia Defence and Security forces in providing peace and security in the country. Additionally, the ECOWAS Mission mandated the contingents to strengthen civil-military relations through quick-impact community projects, sensitisation programmes, sporting activities, medical outreach, as well as providing other humanitarian services.
The Mission authorities affirmed that it is in compliance with such ECOWAS mandate that within the first and second quarter of 2020 the NIGCOY4 ECOMIG carried out some notable civil-military activities in The Gambia, which include donation of funds and food stuffs, among others.
Highlighting some of their earlier humanitarian efforts in the community, the Unit said on 3rd February 2020, it granted financial assistance to the tune of D10,000 to Fajara Barracks Lower Basic School to enable them conduct educational tour for the students of Grade 3 and 4, as well as D10 000 to Yundum Barracks Upper Basic School on February 10th 2020 meant to cater for refreshment during the inauguration ceremony of a structure in the school premises.
“Similarly, on 14th March the Unit granted a financial assistance to the tune of D10,000 to Fajara Barracks Nursery School to enable them take part in the Nursery School Independence Anniversary play-let at the McCarty Square,” the contingent indicated in a statement.
Their other community service was carried out in April 2020, which came in the form of installation of an overhead water tank worth D20,000 at the Regional Health Directorate office complex in Mansakonko, in the Lower River Region.
In a statement, the Commanding Officer of NIGCOY 4 ECOMIG, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Tijjani Nagudu affirmed that these humanitarian services “were embarked upon to further strengthen the already established cordial civil-military relationship between his unit and the people of the Gambia”.
Having expressed their commitment to effectively executing their mandate, the Lieutenant Colonel seeks the cooperation of the general public in the discharge of the ECOWAS Mandate “so as to pave way for peace, security and development in The Gambia”.
