The Niger State Government in North-Central Nigeria has budgeted N976 million for Ramadan feeding in the eight emirate councils of the state.
Similarly, assorted grains have been purchased to be distributed to all the 25 local government areas, emirate councils, religious leaders, security agencies and political parties in the state.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Binta Mamman, each local government will receive 7,079 bags of assorted grains.
She added that N976 million would be expended for Ramadan feeding across the eight emirate councils in the state,” Mamman stated.
Breaking down the number of grains to be received, Mamman said each of the local government areas will receive 1,000 bags of 10kg rice, 184 bags of 25kg rice, 2,000 bags of 10 kg maize, 490 bags of 25kg maize, 1,200 bags of 10kg millet, as well as 1,200 bags of sorghum and 775 bags of beans.
She added that Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja LGAs will receive a total of 14,000 bags of assorted grains each, with Chanchaga LGA receiving the highest number of 21,000 bags of grains.
Others to benefit from this gesture are traditional and religious institutions, security agencies, the Niger State House of Assembly, the APC, IDPs and the organised labour.
She said under Zone A, which comprises Bida, Agaei, and Lapai Emirates, they will each receive N222 million, N43 million and N40 million while Minna, Kagara, and Suleja will get N227 million, N43 million, and N105 million respectively, with Kontagora and Borgu Emirates receiving N228 million and N70 million.
The Commissioner appealed to all those responsible for the distribution and coordination of the palliatives and Ramadan feeding to be fair in carrying out the task.
Meanwhile, for effective and efficient distribution of both Ramadan palliatives and feeding across the 25 local government areas of the state, the Government has declared a five-day public holiday.
The holiday which begins from Monday, March 18 to Friday, March 22 is to enable civil servants and political office holders to participate in the monitoring and distribution of palliatives and Ramadan feeding in their various Local Government Areas.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Binta Mamman in a statement enjoined the people to seize the opportunity to pray for the peace and tranquility of the State and Nigeria as a whole.
Mamman while appealing to the civil servants and political office holders to see this task as a call for service to humanity, urged citizens to cooperate with the officials and be orderly at all distribution and feeding points for smooth and successful exercise.
She therefore thanked Governor Umar Bago for making funds available and prayed to Allah to guide him in running the affairs of the State.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
