The Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC), on Monday, distributed meat palliative to no fewer than 600 beneficiaries in Abuja.

The association made the distribution in collaboration with Near Foundation as part of Eid-el Kabir celebration.

The president of AANDEC, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, said the distribution was an annual event aimed at providing support for the military community, especially the NDC community.

Mr Abdullahi said the beneficiaries were drawn from the barracks and widows of fallen heroes, as well as selected vulnerable members of the society.

According to him, a total of 15 cows were donated by the donor partners to be slaughtered and distributed to the beneficiaries at the premises of the college.

Mr Abdullahi said the association had in the last four years been organising such humanitarian activities for the NDC community, widows of fallen heroes and also the needy amongst them.

“This is to help them overcome some of the suffering that a lot of them are going through.

“We all know the situation of things at the moment because of the cost of things and survival is a matter of very serious issue at the moment.

“So this is to enhance the livelihood of so many of our personnel’s family, the widows and also those who are in very serious need for this,” he said.

He thanked the donor partners for the continuous support and urged all well-meaning Nigerians to support the effort of the Federal Government in addressing the current hardship in the country.

“What is happening here today shows that more individuals and organisations would come out to support.

“About 15 cows have been slaughtered today, yet it is still not enough.

“So we have to find a way to support the increase, whatever we are doing,” he said.

The project coordinator of the Near Foundation, Abdulmalik Bulakos, said the foundation has always reached out to people during times of need and festive period like the Eid-el Kabir with distribution of palliatives.

Ms Bulakos said the partnership with AANDEC was borne out of the desire to touch every segment of the society, especially the families of fallen heroes.

According to him, those are people whose husbands have served this nation and we find it detrimental at this crucial moment to see how we extend our hands to them.

The wife of the commandant of NDC and coordinator, NDC Officers Wives Association, Rhoda Olotu, commended AANDEC for bringing succor to NDC staff and families of fallen heroes.

Ms Olotu, who was represented by Dr Emmanuella Alieze, said the NDC community was happy for the distribution of cow meat for the sallah celebration.

“I am here to thank Near Foundation and AANDEC for bringing this to our community and I pray that God will replenish wherever you brought this from 10,000 times,” she said.

(NAN)