By Olukayode Idowu
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has supervised the distribution of food items and agricultural inputs to over 35,000 male heads of household in Monguno local government area of the state.
Each of the 35,000 beneficiaries received one bag of 25kg of rice and cowpeas to enable them cultivate their farmlands.
Zulum revealed that the rice package was part of the 20 trucks donated by the federal government to the state to alleviate the hardship faced by people due to high cost of food items.
He said: “We are in Monguno town mainly for two functions, first to distribute food items provided to the government of Borno State by the federal government. 20 trucks of rice were given to us, and this morning, we distributed all of them to this community.
“In addition to this, we have also distributed seeds, as most of them do not have the capacity to buy farm inputs, and we have distributed cowpeas to all the able heads of households,” Zulum said.
“I want also to inform you that the federal government has provided 90 trucks of fertiliser to the state government for free to distribute to our farmers,” Zulum stated.
The governor, who was in Monguno on Sunday, expressed gratitude to the federal government for supporting the people of his state. He said: “On behalf of the people of Borno State, I want to appreciate the federal government for this laudable gesture.”
He also distributed over N450m to 45,000 widows and vulnerable women in Monguno during his Sunday visit.
Governor Zulum said, “We have also distributed N10,000 in cash support and a wrapper to each of the over 45,000 widows and vulnerable women in Monguno town.”
According to the Governor, the distribution of palliative by his administration was not meant to create dependency but to support vulnerable families that have lost their sources of livelihood to the Boko Haram crisis facing Borno State.