7th September, 2022
Professor Babagana Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, on Wednesday shared about N400 million alongside thousands of bags of food and textiles to over 90,000 vulnerable male and female residents of Bama.
Zulum arrived at Bama on Monday as he approaches his third day of undertaking humanitarian and developmental activities.
According to a 2016 assessment report co-authored by the World Bank, the EU, United Nations and Nigerian Government, Bama is identified as the worst affected by Boko Haram’s destructions and displacement, hence Borno Government’s special attention on areas of reconstruction and humanitarian aid.
Governor Zulum, from early morning (6:35am) on Wednesday, flagged off the distribution in front of the Shehu of Bama’s palace amidst the gathering of thousands of beneficiaries.
More than 60,000 male residents each received two bags of rice and maize while 30,000 female residents each received a wrapper and N5,000 cash.
The Cash and food distributions took place at four locations. Three of these were in Bama town and one at Gurusoye, a village on the outskirt of the town.
Governor Zulum was directly involved in coordinating the aid distribution to ensure substantial reach and transparency.
The governor also met and approved cash and food support to numerous groups including those volunteers, elders, and different levels of traditional rulers who help in intelligence gathering.
Various sums of money were released to the groups depending on their numbers in order to enhance access to livelihoods as residents gradually return to farming and other businesses, which were hitherto hampered by the violent activities of insurgents.
Speaking to journalists in Bama during Wednesday’s activities, Governor Zulum revealed that a substantial quantity of the food he shared came from the food launched by President Muhammadu Buhari as special support for the North-East, during the 2022 World Humanitarian Day which was held on August 18 in Maiduguri.
He said the rice, in thousands of bags, came from the Nigerian Customs Service and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development through its establishments: the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The governor conveyed his deepest gratitude to President Buhari, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) and heads of NEDC and NEMA for their compassion towards Borno people.