By Gbenga Akingbule.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, on Tuesday launched a massive Ramadan food distribution, reaching 300,000 households across the state as part of the government’s multifaceted humanitarian programme for the holy month and beyond.
Gatekeepers News reports that the initiative, covering all 27 local government areas, is designed to cushion the economic hardship faced by residents and enable them to observe the Ramadan fast with ease and dignity.
Governor Zulum who revealed that similar gesture will be extended to Christian residents launched the distribution at Ramat Square in Maiduguri, the state capital, where he warned that anyone caught diverting the food items from reaching the intended beneficiaries would face the full wrath of the law, urging security agencies to keep an eagle eye on the food distribution.
The intervention includes the distribution of essential food items such as rice, millet, and sugar. Each beneficiary received a bag of rice, a bag of millet, and 10 kilograms of sugar.
According to the governor , “To the committee in charge of this distribution, let transparency be your watchword. Let fairness be your guide. These items are not for sale. They are not for your friends or family members who do not need them.
“They are for the widow, the orphan, the internally displaced, the farmer whose fields have not fully recovered, and the daily wage earner struggling to make ends meet. Any officer found diverting these items will face the full wrath of the law.”
Zulum added thta ” This gesture will also touch the non-Muslims ( Christians ) whose fasting period falls within the month of Ramadan.”
To ensure seamless transportation and delivery of the food items, the state government contracted 1,600 tricycles operators popularly referred to as keke, to convey food supplies from venue of the distribution to various communities and households, particularly targeting the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. Each tricycle operator was paid the sum of N4,500 per trip.
In addition, labourers , who’re mostly youths and assisted in conveying and loading the food items into the tricycles were also rewarded with stipends for their work. The gesture not only appreciated their efforts but also provided short-term economic support and empowerment for young people engaged in the distribution exercise.
Officials noted that the arrangement guarantees efficient delivery while providing temporary economic opportunities to both tricycle operators and labourers.
They added that the multifaceted nature of the support — food distribution and logistics coordination demonstrates a holistic approach to humanitarian service in the state.
Beneficiaries across several communities have expressed appreciation to the state government, describing the gesture as timely and impactful amid harsh economic realities.
50 year old Falmata Modu , one of the beneficiaries was full of gratitude to the state government saying ” this food items will assist me and my seven children during this holy month of Ramadan and beyond ”
Another beneficiary, Hassan Mohammed, commended Zulum- led administration for consistently reaching out to the less privileged, adding ” this is the youth year I’m receiving this food support from the state government and it has assisted me , my four children and my mother immensely ”
The Ramadan food support programme has become an annual event under the Zulum administration, reinforcing efforts to strengthen social protection and support vulnerable populations across Borno State
