Ndume distributes 30,436 bags of rice, maize to constituents in Borno

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South senatorial district, has distributed 30,436 bags of rice and maize to constituents in nine local government areas in southern Borno.

Speaking during the distribution exercise on Tuesday in Biriyel town, the headquarters of Bayo LGA, Ndume said the palliatives are in line with the effort of the federal government through the Ministry of Agriculture and food security to cushion the current economic hardship faced by the masses.

Senator Ndume noted that the palliatives consist of 16,886 bags of rice and 13,550 bags of maize.

According to him, the beneficiaries of the palliatives are carefully selected from the most vulnerable people in the nine LGAs of southern Borno, irrespective of political parties.

He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is concerned with the current economic situation of the country, and these palliatives are aimed at cushioning the current economic challenges facing the nation.

He said, apart from the masses or the downtrodden, such as heads of households who would receive the items devoid of any political inclination, Executive Members (EXCO) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC, stakeholders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders from each unit and ward level, as well as security operatives, including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF, hunters, and vigilantes who have been working tirelessly and complementing the efforts of the military in the fight against terrorists and other criminal elements, would equally benefit from the gesture.

Represented by former Borno Deputy Governor, Alhaji Jato, this is not the first time Senator Ndume is distributing palliatives to his people, as many have benefited from his multimillion-naira empowerment and poverty alleviation initiatives.

‘This is in addition to the cash support provided by Ndume’s introduction of ‘Trader Monie’, focusing on small-scale business owners across the constituency, all in his effort to reduce hardship.

He expressed deep concern over the ongoing difficulties confronting constituents and said that these palliatives form part of the federal government’s broader efforts to alleviate hardships caused by escalating prices and inflation in the country, hitherto caused by unfavourable foreign exchange policies.

“The items would primarily target the less privileged members of society, political loyalists, and stakeholders across the units, wards, and LGAs.

“The gesture is to assist the beneficiaries, considering the skyrocketing prices of food commodities in the country, especially the major items such as rice and maize mostly needed in the zone for survival,” Jato said.

Speaking on the breakdown of the number of items, the distribution sub-committee chairman, Alhaji Yakubu, explained that the combined food palliatives for each local government indicated that Biu got 4,132, Gwoza 4,700, Chibok 2,332 and Damboa 2,988.

Others include Shani, which got 2,792, Bayo, which got 2,048, Kwaya Kusar, which got 2,148, Askira/Uba, which got 4,360, while Hawul got 3,536, respectively.

The event witnessed the presence of APC Deputy Chairman (South), Alh Aliyu Yerima, Deputy Woman Leader, Lydiya Gora, Council Chairmen of Bayo, Kwaya Kusar, Shani, Hawul, and Biu, as well as other dignitaries.

Alhaji Yerima, in a vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babagana Zulum, and Senator Ndume for the gesture, which he said would go a long way in alleviating the current economic challenges in the zone. End