By Abdul Kareem

In heartwarming response to the ongoing economic challenges faced by its citizens, the Borno state government has embarked on an ambitious food distribution to a targetted 600,000 persons across 100,000 households within two of its major local government areas.

The residents of Maiduguri Metropolitan council and Jere local government area constitute the mega capital of Maiduguri and host the largest number of the state’s populace.

The move, described as the largest in the state’s history, is set to cover 26 electoral wards and bring relief to the people amid rising living costs.

Governor Babagana Zulum, with an eye on both immediate needs and future sustainability, has expressed his commitment to expanding the initiative. 

He stated that the large number was due to the state capital’s population, which exceeds that of many other local government areas combined. 

Governor Zulum

“Each household is expected to receive 25kg each of rice, maize, and millet,” said Governor Zulum.

He said the initiative aims to mitigate economic hardship and help alleviate the cost of living in the state. 

“We are targeting 100,000 households, and as you can see, we have more than enough supply here to reach our target population—the most vulnerable and poorest among them.

My intention is not to stop at the targeted 100,000 households; we hope to extend our reach to as many as 200,000 households before the Ramadan season,” he explained.

“As long as I remain the governor of Borno State, it is my wish to provide palliative support when necessary. 

However, I must make it clear to the public that relying on government palliatives is not sustainable, as the required funds are enormous and beyond the state government’s resources. 

“Nonetheless, I must commend the federal government for its sustained support—we have previously received support from the NEDC, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the directives of the president. I urge the people of Borno State to remain calm and law-abiding.

“We are in the midst of a global crisis, and the federal government is addressing the economic hardship. The Naira has begun to appreciate in recent days, and we need your prayers and support for both the state and federal governments as we strive to alleviate this hardship.

“We encourage investment in both subsistence and commercial agriculture. The federal government recently introduced earning programs under the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security as a medium and long-term solution. Here in Borno State, we are investing in large-scale commercial and irrigation agriculture, as the current situation is unsustainable. I call upon those in the metropolis who are neither traders nor businessmen to consider agriculture. The government will provide free agricultural inputs, cash support, and even free buses to transport them to safe locations for cultivation.

Maiduguri residents in large number collect their shares

This large-scale distribution, including 50kg of staple grains per household, is a testament to the state’s dedication to supporting its most vulnerable communities. It also highlights the governor’s vision for a self-sufficient Borno, buoyed by large-scale commercial and irrigation agriculture.

The commissioner of local government and emirate affairs, Sugum Mai-Mele, informed The Humanitairian Times that the beneficiaries are carefully selected from the two local government areas and allocated papers containing their names and pictures as a means of verification.

“We have identified 100,000 households, and each was carefully identified by their community leaders as vulnerable households. This is the biggest because half of the Borno state population reside in Maiduguri or Jere.”