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Ramadan: Kano State government spent N1.2bn not N6bn – Media Aide
The DG also stated that apart from the 120,000 bags of rice donated by Aliko Dangote Foundation, the state government had also received 199 trucks of grains from the federal government, noting that the items would be distributed to Kano residents across the 484 wards, starting from this week.
Sanusi Bature, the Director General, Media and Publicity to Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf on Sunday said the state government earmarked to spend N1.2 billion not N6 billion for the Ramadan feeding program in the state.
Bature who made this known while addressing newsmen said the N6 billion figure is untrue.
He said the Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf had launched a probe into the poor quality of meals served by the committee saddled with the responsibility to oversee the feeding program.
He said the governor had summoned the committee saddled with the responsibility to oversee the feeding programme with a view to reviewing the program.
According to him, “we wish to make it visibly clear to the comprehension of the general public that the speculations on spending six billion naira for the Ramadan feeding programme is untrue, as reported by various media platforms.
“The actual amount earmarked and approved by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State for the 2024 Ramadan feeding is N1, 190, 790,000:00. This amount is expected to cater for one hundred feeding centers across eight metropolitan local governments with each center expected to feed at least one thousand people daily.
“The aim of this programme is to support those in need, particularly who cannot feed themselves during the holy month of Ramadan which include; people living with disability, almajiris, orphans and other vulnerable groups.
“As you must have been aware that, recently His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has undertook an impromptu visit to one of the centers at Gidan Maza, in Kano Municipal local government, during which he expressed disappointment over the sub-standard quality of the food served to the beneficiaries. This underscores his unwavering committement to the state in the implementation of government projects and programmes.
“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. Details of the review following His Excellency’s unscheduled visit would be made available to the general public within the next 24 hours,” he stated.
The DG also stated that apart from the 120,000 bags of rice donated by Aliko Dangote Foundation, the state government had also received 199 trucks of grains from the federal government, noting that the items would be distributed to Kano residents across the 484 wards, starting from this 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,” Bature however stated.
Meanwhile, the Director General’s reaction is coming barely hours after the major opposition party in the state, All Progressive Congress, APC challenged the New Nigerian People’s Party, NNPP-led government to justify the N6 billion spending on the program.
Recall that a senior government official in the state was quoted in the media to have said the state government earmarked N6 billion for the feeding program.
