.Buni distributes 50,000 bags of grains to vulnerable households
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has disbursed N255.7 million cash and food items to Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters.
This was as Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, distributed 50,000 bags (2,500 tonnes) of rice, maize and sorghum to 120,000 vulnerable households in 178 wards.
Disbursing the cash and food at the Multipurpose Hall of Government House, Maiduguri, on Wednesday, Zulum said the CJTF, hunters and vigilantes were assisting the military in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the state.
About 5,523 CJTF members and hunters operating within Maiduguri and Jere, comprising those on government payroll and the volunteers, received the governor’s package.
Each of the 4,513 operatives that received monthly pay from the government was given a bag of 50kg rice and N50,000 cash, while 1,000 volunteers got a bag of 50kg rice and N30,000 cash each.
Zulum expressed gratitude to the volunteers for the sacrifices they have been making to ensure that peace is restored to the state.
MEANWHILE, according to Buni, the Yobe gesture was to cushion the effect of the economic downturn on vulnerable persons and others in dire need.
Flagging off the exercise, yesterday, at the Government House, Damaturu, he disclosed: “The distribution we are about to launch today is targeting vulnerable households in various communities to reduce their economic hardship.”
The governor noted that the state government had intervened, many times, through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in supporting vulnerable persons.
“I have received favourable feedback from the previous distribution exercises, through direct and indirect monitoring mechanisms setup by the state government,” he noted.
Buni commended the Federal Government through the NG-Cares, North East Development Commission (NEDC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other partners for complementing the provision of relief materials to the people.
He, however, warned that the government would deal ruthlessly with any act of sabotage or diversion of the food items.
Buni urged the House of Assembly, local council chairmen, community leaders and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to effectively monitor the distribution.
