Government Provides Covid-19 Food Relief to Church Members

To help her citizens combat the challenges posed by the various lockdown measures put in place by the government as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Edo State Government of Nigeria on 18 May, 2020 donated food items to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the State capital,  Benin-City.

Speaking while handing over the food items to the Church, Honorable Yakubu Gowon, Special Assistant to the State Government on Special Duties, urged the leaders of the Church to ensure that the items get to the needy members of the Church. He encouraged members to continue to observe the various safety and health measures put in place by the government for the protection of the citizens of the state.

The items received by the Church are 125 bags(10 kg) of rice, 125 bags(10 kg) of beans and 50 cartons of noodles.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Church, Austin Akomah-Mordi, NigeriaBenin-City Area Coordinating Council Communication Director, thanked the government for their kind gesture and promised to ensure that the items get to the needy members in the Church.

The Edo State Government and the Church have a good working relationship. They have partnered on several projects in the state especially during the annual All Africa Service Projects conducted in August of each year.

Edo State, Nigeria hosts a mission of the Church – the Nigeria Benin-City Mission and Nine Stakes (Similar to a Diocese). At the October 2019, General Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, the President of the Church, Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct a Temple of the Church in Benin-City.