Okonjo-Iweala goofs with picture on COVID-19 food distribution ‘in Rwanda’

On Wednesday, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former minister of finance, posted a picture of food packages on her social media handles, claiming they were palliatives being distributed by the Rwandan government to poor households to mitigate the effect of the lockdown in the country over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The picture, which shows bags of grains, kegs of oil and other food items packed in sacks were arranged in well-spaced rows on the sandy floor of an unspecified location.

“Responsible food distribution with social distancing to assist lower income households in the #COVID19 era! A great example from #Rwanda where community workers also distribute food and other necessities door-to-door,” Okonjo-Iweala wrote.

Responsible food distribution with social distancing to assist lower income households in the #COVID19 era! A great example from #Rwanda where community workers also distribute food and other necessities door-to-door @PaulKagame pic.twitter.com/EnukL4fTl3

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— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) April 8, 2020

Some reactions which trailed the tweet, however, claimed that the picture had been in circulation hitherto, while calling on Okonjo-Iweala to verify the image.

TheCable ran a reverse image search and the results showed that it has been on the internet as early as 2019.

We found out the image was uploaded by Rariya, a page on Facebook, on May 17, 2019. It said the packages, donated by one Imam Jaiteh Charitable Foundation, was for distribution to Muslims in Gambia during the month of fasting (Ramadan) in 2019.

IS RWANDA DISTRIBUTING COVID-19 PALLIATIVES?

Yes. The Rwandan government had on March 21 implemented a strict lockdown across the country in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

The country has recorded 105 confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven recoveries so far.

As parts of efforts to mitigate the effect of the lockdown on low-income earners, the government also announced that the country’s ministry of local government had begun door-to-door distribution of food items to at least 20,000 households and individuals most hit by the lockdown.

President Paul Kagame who said government is aware of the hardship the lockdown would cause the people, pleaded with them to exercise patience.

“We know that this is not an easy period for most Rwandans, whose livelihoods have been interrupted across the country. But we ask you to be patient. Although we are making good progress, we cannot afford to relax yet,” Kagame  said.

“We need to speed this up. The government will continue to do everything possible, to support Rwandans through this challenging time.”

Kagame said he also planned to provide essential services such as the supply of water and electricity for free.

OKONJO-IWEALA’s IMAGE SHOWS FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN RWANDA?

No. While it is true that that the Rwandan government is giving out palliatives, the picture does not originate from the east African country but from Gambia.

It also has nothing to do with the COVID-19 outbreak since it has been in circulation since May 2019, seven months before the virus was first recorded — or earlier.