Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau State on Monday donated a cow and foodstuff to inmates of the Pankshin Prison as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 56th Independence Anniversary.

Lalong told the inmates that his administration was concerned about the welfare of the people especially the less privileged and “inmates like you, who for one reason or another, unfortunately found themselves in confinement’.’

“These food items, blankets and the cow donated to you are part of this government’s activities to celebrate the nation’s 56 Independence Anniversary with you, ’’ he said.

Represented by the state Commissioner of Health Commissioner, Dr Kuden Kamshak, the governor charged the inmates to behave well and try to learn some trade which would make them become self reliant after their jail term.

Mr Timothy Dabit, Deputy Controller of Prisons, thanked the Governor and the Management Committee of Pankshin Local Government for the gesture which he said, would assist in the upkeep of the inmates.

Responding on behalf of the inmates, Mr Simon Dachi, thanked and assured the governor of their readiness to be of good behavior while in the prison and after.

Lalong also visited the General Hospital, Pankshin, and donated some items to the in-patients among whom were two women that were delivered of a baby boy and a baby girl, respectively.

Similary, Mrs Alice Dimlong, a member of the Plateau House of Assembly, representing Pankshin North Constituency, donated several bags of rice and maize among other foodstuff and clothing materials, to widows and the less privileged from 20 wards of the council.

Dimlong, who made the donation at the APC Council secretariat, said the gesture was to celebrate with them, the nation’s 56th  Independence Anniversary.

Mr Timothy Yilmukwa, APC Council Chairman, expressed appreciation for the gesture, which he described as timely considering the impact of recession on the people.

The Pankshin Council Chairman, Mr Stephen Jings, said the Buhari led administration was doing all it could to tackle the recession with good policies and programmes and bring the nation back to economic prosperity.

Jings, who doubles as the State ALGON Chairman, called on Nigerians to be patient with the administration, “as it is doing all it could to restore the nation’s lost glory”.

count | 88

Gov Lalong donates cow, foodstuff to prison inmates