By Abdulkareem Haruna 

A group of women in the Muna Garage district patiently await their turn to collect food aid provided by the Borno Government. Photo: Abdulkareem/HumAngle

In an effort to combat escalating economic difficulties, the government of Borno state launched a significant food and essentials relief operation today, targeting an estimated 1.8 million of their most vulnerable citizens. 

Spearheading the program in the Muna Garage neighborhood of Maiduguri was the state Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum.

The initial phase of the relief operation saw a wide range of recipients. An estimated 8,000 women were provided with cash and traditional garments, while about 5,000 family heads, both men and women, received an assortment of food essentials, including bags of rice, beans, and maize. 

Women waiting to received their food palliative

The inspiration for this food aid campaign came in response to the financial squeeze induced by the recent discontinuation of petroleum product subsidies, which has subsequently triggered a nationwide spike in fuel pump prices. 

Governor Zulum outlined the mission of this food distribution effort, explaining that it is in line with the federal government’s strategy to ease the impacts of the subsidy removal on vulnerable citizens. He stressed that “this is only the beginning, as the program aims to reach 300,000 households, equivalent to about 1.8 million individuals.”

Recipients of the aid expressed their heartfelt gratitude. Falmata Bulama and Fatimata Ali, two displaced women from the Mafa local government area, shared their experiences of struggling to secure food due to safety issues in farming regions and the recent inflation of market prices.

Ali expressed her hardship, stating “We endured a lot in the past months due to lack of food and means to get it; the farming areas are not safe, people are dying daily, and recently, things have been even harder due to the rise in market prices.”

Bulama, reflecting on the assistance, remarked, “I’m relieved knowing we will have enough food for the coming days, and we’re grateful for the government’s thoughtfulness.”

This food aid program is the first notable relief operation in Borno state in recent times, providing a glimmer of hope for its most needy citizens.

As the state progresses with the next phases of the program, it is hoped that this initiative will significantly alleviate the economic strain experienced by many residents in the area.