By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Senate Majority Whip who is also the Senator representing Bourbon South Senatorial District at the National.Assembly, Senator
Mohammed Ali Ndume, in collaboration with the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has unveiled distribution of palliatives of 30,436 assorted bags of 25kg rice and maize grains to nine local government areas of Borno State in order to cushion current economic hardship faced by the people.
The items distributed as palliatives, include, l16,886 bags of rice and 13,550 bags of maize in Briyel town, local government council headquarters of Bayo LGC of Borno yesteeday,.
Similarly, same distribution exercise of the palliatives took place in Askira- Uba Local Government Area.
It would be recalled recently that Senator Ndume while making necessary measures to ensure judicious and transparent exercise, constituted a Committee for the distribution of the palliatives headed by a reputable statesman, the former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Abubakar Jato who have since swung into action.
Ndume commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support aimed at cushioning the current economic challenges facing the nation.
He added that apart from the masses or the downtrodden such as heads of households who would receive the items devoid of any political inclination, Executive Members (EXCO) of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, stakeholders, traditional rulers and religious leaders from each units and ward levels.
According to him, even security operatives and members of the vigilante Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters who have been working tirelessly and complementing efforts of the military in the fight against terrorists and other criminal elements would equally benefit from the gesture.
Represented by former Borno Deputy Governor, Alhaji Jato at the flag off ceremony, the Federal Law maker said this was not the first time Senator Ndume is distributing palliatives to his people, as many have benefited from his multi million naira empowerment and poverty alleviation initiatives.
The former Deputy Governor said the gesture was in addition to cash support by Ndume’s introduction of ‘Trader Monie’, focusing on small-scale business owners across the constituency, all in his effort to reduce hardship.
Jato however, expressed deep concerns over the ongoing difficulties confronting constituents, and that these palliatives form part of the federal government’s broader efforts to alleviate hardships caused by escalating prices and inflation in the country hitherto caused by unfavourable foreign exchange policies.
His words, “The items would primarily target the less privileged members of the society, political loyalists and stakeholders across the units, wards and LGAs.
“The gesture is to assist the beneficiaries, considering the skyrocketing prices of food commodities in the country, especially the major items such as rice and maize mostly needed in the zone for survival.” Jato said.
Speaking on the breakdown of the items, the distribution sub-committee Chairman, Alhaji Yakubu explained that the combined food palliatives for each local government shown that Biu LGC got 4,132 bags, Gwoza LGC had 4,700, bags Chibok LGC got 2,33 bags and Damboa LGC had 2,988 bags respectively.
Others include, Shani LGC 2,792, Bayo LGC 2,048, Kwaya Kusar LGC 2,148, Askira/Uba LGC 4,360, while Hawul LGC got 3,536, respectively.
The event witnessed the presence of APC Borno State Deputy Chairman (South), Alh Aliyu Yerima, Deputy Woman Leader, Lydiya Gora, Council chairmen of Bayo, Kwaya Kusar, Shani, Hawul, Biu as well as other dignitaries.
Alhaji Yerima in a vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babagana Zulum and Senator Ndume for the gesture, which he said would go along way in alleviating the current economic challenges in the Zone.
