Kano government: N1.19bn, not N6bn, earmarked for Ramadan feeding

The Kano government says it earmarked only N1,190,790,000 for Ramadan feeding in the state contrary to N6 billion being reported in the media.

BACKGROUND

Baba Dantiye, Kano commissioner for information, was reported to have said the government set aside N6 billion to reach four million people in the 2024 Ramadan feeding programme across the 44 LGAs of the state.

However, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) asked the state government to account for the N6 billion purportedly disbursed for the Ramadan feeding after Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, condemned the quality of being served to the beneficiaries.

‘WE’LL GUARANTEE VALUE FOR MONEY’

In a statement on Sunday,  Sanusi Tofa, spokesperson to the governor, clarified that N1.9 billion was allocated to cater to 100 feeding centres across the eight metropolitan local councils in the state.

He noted that each centre is expected to feed at least 1000 people daily.

Tofa added that the feeding programme is meant to support vulnerable groups during the fasting period such as people with disabilities (PWDs), Almajiris, orphans and others.

Tofa recalled that the governor had undertaken an impromptu visit to one of the centres at Gidan Maza, where he expressed disappointment over the quality of the food served to the beneficiaries.

“Based on this development, the governor instantly summoned an emergency meeting with the committee saddled with the responsibility of the Ramadan feeding to re-direct the implementation of the exercise to a more responsive, transparent and accountable manner that can guarantee efficiency and value for money as designed in the initial proposal of the feeding programme and approved by His Excellency,” the statement reads.

“Details of the review following His Excellency’s unscheduled visit would be made available to the general public within the next 24 hours.

“We are pleased to acknowledge the generous contribution and support receive from various stakeholders as a result of His Excellency’s appeal to philanthropists, and other wealthy individuals to join hands with him in the noble work of supporting the vulnerable members of the society.

“So far, the state government has received the contributions of Alhaji Aliko Dangote who supported Kano residents with 120,000 bags of 10kg rice that was distributed yesterday.

“The state has also received from the federal government a total of 100 trucks of 25kg rice, 44 trucks of Sorghum, 14 trucks of Millet, 41 trucks of Maize which will be distributed across the 484 wards in the 44 local government areas of the state within the week.

“Apart from the palliatives received from Alhaji Aliko Dangote and President Bola Tinubu which was greatly appreciated, the state government in partnership with local governments is procuring approximately additional 132 trucks of 25kg of rice to be distributed across 44 local government areas within the Ramadan period.”