• Kano gov warns Ramadan palliative handlers against diversion
• Gombe, Jigawa set up committees to avert stampede

Kaduna State Government has flagged off the distribution of palliatives to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kajuru Local Council, pointing out that 551 communities across 12 local councils are affected by banditry, while 289,375 IDPs are recorded.

Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), Dr Usman Mazadu, disclosed the figures at the flag-off in Maraban Kajuru.

“The figures were not just numbers, but statistics that represent lives, dreams and the enduring spirit of our people,” he added.

According to him, Chikun has 134 affected communities and 26,345 IDPs, while Birnin Gwari has 84 affected communities and 70,893 IDPs.

Mazadu, however, said: “We are here to initiate a significant undertaking, the flag-off of the distribution of relief materials to our brothers and sisters, who have been displaced by the unfortunate events that have befallen some communities in our dear state.

“This distribution of palliative is not just an act of aid; it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to the SUSTAIN Agenda of our visionary leader, Governor Uba Sani, which is a comprehensive blueprint for the safety, security and prosperity of our people.”

He noted that the governor factored the number into his N11.4 billion palliative programme.

Flagging off the distribution, the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, represented by her Chief of Staff, James Kanyip, assured that the Sani-led administration would not rest until banditry is eradicated.

ALSO, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, unveiled the distribution of Ramadan palliative to the less privileged in the society, but with a strong warning against any attempt to divert the food items.

During the fourth distribution in the series of palliatives in the state, Governor Yusuf disclosed that the food items were meant for the less privileged and must be delivered to them.

Although he was silent on the kind of punishment awaiting anyone found sabotaging the distribution, he was categorical that any person caught betraying the confidence entrusted in the committee would not go scot-free.

The governor also vowed to sack any political appointee, who compromised the system, regardless of their status in his administration.

Yusuf had personally led a team of government officials and journalists to uncover a warehouse where palliatives were diverted. It was gathered that one of the members of the organising committee at the cabinet office involved in the diversion was handed over to security.

The distribution, he emphasised, would begin in 16 local councils of Kano South with 31,670 bags of 25kg rice, followed by Kano North’s 13 local councils with 23,640 bags and Kano Central’s 15 local councils with 56,910 bags.

The governor charged the Palliative Distribution Compliance Committees from state, local council to ward levels to ensure that the palliatives get to the target beneficiaries.

In his remarks, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of the State Palliative Distribution Compliance Committee, Dr Abdullahi Bichi, commended the governor for the kind gesture and promised that the committee would ensure fairness and transparency during the distribution.

MEANWHILE, Gombe and Jigawa states have constituted committees to guard against stampede during palliative distribution.

The committees are designed to decentralise distribution and guard against diversion of the commodities as well as safeguard during the exercise.

Officials of the humanitarian and social welfare agencies in the states stated this while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on palliative distribution in Bauchi, Dutse and Gombe.

The development came on the heels of a stampede during palliative distribution, which resulted in the loss of lives and property in parts of the country.

Authorities in Bauchi had confirmed seven persons dead and many others injured during the alms stampede, while one other person was killed and large-scale looting of food items was reported in Kebbi in the past two weeks.

The trend prompted state governments and social welfare programme agencies to adopt proactive measures to address the menace.

In Jigawa, the government constituted the state, local council and ward level committees to sanitise the palliative distribution exercise.

Commissioner for Special Duties in Jigawa, Auwal Sankara declared the exercise as orderly and hitch-free in the state.

He said the state recorded the remarkable feat under the first and second phase of the distribution due to the decentralisation of the exercise.

Sankara said the state constituted committees at every level of governance to enhance wider stakeholder engagement, mobilise participation, promote discipline and deal with the diversion of the commodities.