March 26, (THEWILL) – The Kano State Government is set to launch a mega relief programme that will reach all nooks and crannies of the state as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the economic hardship faced by the people of the state.
Governor Abba Yusuf disclosed this on Tuesday, at the flag-off of the distribution of food baskets of relief items donated by King Salman Humanitarian Relief Centre of Saudi Arabia to 2056 vulnerable households across eight (8) metropolitan Local Government Areas of the State.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, described the gesture as timely as it coincided with when citizens are struggling with economic hardship, “especially in this Holy month of Ramadan when demands for consumables are high”.
This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen by the Deputy Governor’s Spokesman, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, shortly after the event held at Maganda Road (Gidan Hatsi) in Kano State.
According to Garba, the Deputy Governor revealed that the gesture by King Salman is the third in two years.
“Last year, at this same period, similar donations to 500 households were received immediately after this administration took over the helm of affairs of the state.
“We also received donations of dates for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable,” he said.
While thanking King Salman Humanitarian Relief Centre for the warm gesture, the Deputy Governor hinted that “this show of compassion has confirmed the historical and brotherly relationship that exists between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, most especially Kano State.”
Earlier, the representative of King Salman Humanitarian Relief Centre, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Zaben, said the aid was an extension relief and humanitarian effort provided by the Government of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, custodian of the two Holy Mosques in Medina and Mecca, to countries all over the world, Nigeria inclusive.
Also speaking, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Hajiya Zubaida Umar, said the event was another testimony to the strong partnership between NEMA and Kano SEMA in service delivery to Nigerians in need of relief support.
Represented by Hajiya Fatima from the Agency, Zubaida noted that the food baskets would be handed over to the already enumerated individual household heads jointly itemised by NEMA and Kano SEMA.
According to her, “Each household is expected to get 59.8kg basket of food items consisting 25kg of rice, 25kg of beans, 4kg of masa vita flour, 2 litres of vegetable oil, 2kg of tomato paste, 0.8kg of seasoning cubes and 1kg of salt.”
Governor Yusuf, Hajiya Zubaida and representative of King Salman Humanitarian Relief Centre, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Zaben, and other stakeholders present at the event urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the items, warning that the commodities must not be sold.
About the Author
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
