The Kano State government on Saturday began the distribution of 100,000 bags of 10-kilogram rice donated by the Aliko Dangote Foundation as Ramadan palliatives for vulnerable residents across the state.
The distribution exercise, which began in parts of the state capital, targeted street beggars, hawkers, passers-by and other indigent persons.
Officials who supervised the exercise included the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Farouq, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Danjuma Mahmoud, and other government functionaries.
Speaking during the exercise, the commissioner for agriculture said the foundation donated 100,000 bags of 10kg rice for distribution to the needy across the 44 local government areas of the state.
He explained that the foundation handed the consignment to the Kano State government under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf for onward distribution to vulnerable residents.
According to him, the governor constituted a team comprising the SSG, the Ministry of Agriculture and some special advisers to coordinate the exercise to ensure the items reach the intended beneficiaries.
Mahmoud added that apart from allocations to the 44 local government areas, the government also embarked on street distribution in areas where large numbers of vulnerable people could easily be reached.
He noted that this year’s exercise was unique as the foundation entrusted the entire distribution process to the state government.
“The foundation under the leadership of Alhaji Aliko Dangote donated about 100,000 bags of 10kg rice to be distributed to the needy across the 44 local governments.
“It handed everything over to the Kano State government and the governor assigned a team comprising the SSG, myself and some special advisers to handle the distribution,” he said.
Read also:
- Okowa Advise Religious Leaders Against Partisan politics Says Less Than 50 percent of Eligible Christians Vote in Elections
- Abba Yusuf’s defection to APC boosts party unity in Kano, says Dan’agundi
- Keyamo flags off N21.6bn NAMA headquarters, new ATM centre to boost Nigeria’s airspace safety
Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the state government and the foundation for the gesture.
One of them, Moses Aaron, said he was surprised to receive the rice while passing by, noting that he had never experienced such a gesture before.
Another beneficiary, Dauda Abdullahi, also thanked the government and the foundation, praying for more blessings for them.
A resident of Hotoro, Salamatu Garba, described the distribution as the first time she had received such support, adding that she benefited without going through any stress.
Similarly, Abdulgafar Abdullahi said the intervention would go a long way in assisting many people struggling to survive, especially during the Ramadan fasting period.
