The Dangote Foundation has flagged off the distribution of 106 trucks of food items to feed 30, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various camps for the Ramadan fast in Borno state.
The donated food items, are in addition to N2 billion that President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote had donated for rebuilding and rehabilitation of education, health and job creation sectors of the state’s economy.
Flagging off the distribution at the Maiduguri Bakasi camp, chairperson of Foundation, Zouwaira Youssufu disclosed that the distribution of food items to IDPs in camps during the Ramadan fast was in fulfilment of Aliko Dangote’s promise to feed insurgency displaced persons.
Her words: “For further clarifications, this Ramadan gift is in addition to the N2 billion that Aliko Dangote has donated for the rebuilding and focusing on education, health and economic empowerment.”
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state also said that in time of very serious challenges, the Foundation has stood firmly on the side of the people that can be little to Dangote.
He said this is not the first time that the Foundation is intervening in Borno state, adding that a year ago, the Foundation donated the sum of N400 million to 40, 000 IDPs and indigent people of Borno.
“Apart from that; for the past couple of years, the Foundation had been sending food items for distribution to the people of Borno state,” added Shettima.
“We will only give the list of the projects that the Foundation will support; because we do not want to be given a dime out of the money. We do not want the funds to be channeled to Borno state government,” he insisted.
On distribution of the food items, Chairman of State’s Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Satomi said: “We showcased similar distribution of food items to IDPs from Nganzai and Bama council areas. Today we are partnering with the Dangote Foundation that donated food items to IDPs in Borno state.
“We are also launching another 1, 572 individuals which are equivalent to 148 households of Guzamala Local Government in Bakasi camp. These food items that we are giving them are for the period of one for Guzamala IDPs.
“Other Local Governments are running and chanting when their time will come and I promise them as you give directives to do so. We must give them food before the 20th of Ramadan and all the communal cooking in all camps by the IDPs be stopped.
“This stoppage is in line with UN World Food Programme scheme of feeding IDPs in camps. This will give them options to cook at the time they require with much dignity and a variety of choice.”
