The Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni said his administration decided to embark on the procurement and distribution of Ramadan food Basket meant for 30, 000 households with a view to ease the food burden of the vulnerable, Internally Displays Persons (IDPs) and civil servants among other across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Buni who stated this while launching the distribution of food items in Damaturu said the measure was to support citizens who are most vulnerable especially during this sacred period Ramadan.
The governor further stated that the government has equally released the sum of over 297 million to provide food to the less privileged at the Ramadan feeding centers spread across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Governor Buni said the government has also increased the feeding centers from 85 to 102 this year, with the additional locations situated mostly in the health institutions.
He said, “Under the Ramadan Food Basket programme, government has procured of food items, including rice and condiments of about N2 billion for distribution to 30, 000 vulnerable households, internally displaced persons (IDPs), 1,500 teachers and junior staff of the Teaching Service Board, SUBEB, Science and Technical Education Board, 500 Resident Doctors, flood victims, farmers affected by poor harvests, and other disadvantaged persons in the society.
“The government is determined to ease the burden of food insecurity and provide essential support to families in over 30,000 households struggling to meet their daily nutritional needs.
“Today’s program highlights our firm belief to support our dear citizens who are most vulnerable especially during this sacred period.”
The governor restated that the commitments of his administration towards the welfare of the people of Yobe State goes beyond seasonal interventions.
“We have always remained responsive to the plight of our people. In the wake of the devastating 2024 floods, the state government in strategic partnership with the Federal Government, and development partners, provided emergency relief, including food and non-food items.
“We equally allocated N100 million in emergency support to the most affected LGAs to provide the much-needed relief, as we work on a more sustainable and long-term approach to help our people rebuild their lives.
“Today, we are constructing the Erosion Flood and Water Harvesting project in Damaturu and Buni Yadi towns to curb the menace of the floods and harvest the water for irrigation. This, would be replicated in other areas with flood challenges,” he added.
Buni also said, “As part of our administration’s continued commitment to resilience and economic empowerment, we launched two major initiatives in November 2024 to restore livelihoods and foster sustainable development across Yobe State.
“These are the N1.4 billion Support for 25,500 Flood Victims and Vulnerable Groups who received N50, 000 each, and ₦1 billion Empowerment to 10,000 Small Business Owners who received N100, 000 each.”
He used the forum and called on society to redouble their efforts in supporting people, especially the less privileged in the state.
“While the government continues to play its role in supporting the most vulnerable members of our society, we all have a collective responsibility to complement the government’s efforts to see that your neighbour does not break his fast, or go to bed on empty stomach.
“We should remain committed to the values of kindness, generosity, and solidarity that define us as a people,” the governor emphasised.