– 35,000 women get N350m, clothing materials
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has distributed food items to 18,000 farmers and heads of families in Dikwa Local Government Area affected by quela birds and other pests that destroyed farmlands in the area.
A statement from the Government House Press Unit, Maiduguri, on Monday, said the distribution took place at the Palace Shehu of Dikwa.
Governor Zulum, who oversaw the distribution on Monday, explained that the intervention was necessary to avert a food crisis and provide immediate relief to those whose livelihoods were destroyed.
According to Zulum, his administration has implemented measures to strengthen agriculture in the state.
“The last time we distributed food items in Dikwa was about 18 months ago. Because we believe there is an improved security situation in the state, and people have started cultivating their farmlands, we have reduced the distribution of humanitarian support by 90 per cent.
“But this morning, we came to Dikwa to support them because of the drought that affected them last year. The invasion of pests and quelea birds affected their farmlands, leading to the farmers losing a significant portion of their farm outputs.”
The governor also distributed over N350 million to 35,000 women in Dikwa town as part of his administration’s emergency relief to the vulnerable communities.
Each of the 35,000 women received N10,000 cash and a wrapper in addition to the two bags of rice and sorghum each received by the 18,000 male heads of households.
The governor was accompanied to Dikwa by the chairman of the Borno State High-Powered Committee for the Distribution of Palliatives, Engr Bukar Talba, member representing Dikwa at the State House of Assembly, Zakariya Mohammed and the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele among other senior government officials.
