Humanitarian Affairs ministry begins distribution of food items to 3.1 million households

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs,  Disaster Management and Social Development said it will commence the distribution of food items to over 3.1 house holds beginning from Abuja,  the Federal Capital Territory. 

The Minister,  Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq stated that the Ministry will commence immediate distribution of food items to 3.1 million house holds who are  registered under the Home Grown school feeding programme in Abuja. 

In a press release which was issued by Minister’s media Aide, Salisu Dambatta Monday, and made available to journalists in Abuja, she said the exercise will start  on Thursday in the Federal Capital Territory,  before proceeding to Lagos and Ogun States. 
She said every State would benefit under the current arrangements,  noting that other states will follow subsequently after Lagos and Ogun. 

According to her,  “Each household will receive a take home rations of food  items that is valued at N4, 200 which made up of 5kg bag of rice, 5kg bag of beans, 500ml of vegetable oil, 750 ml of palm oil, 500 mg salt, 15 pieces of eggs and 140gm of tomato paste”,  while she said over 6000 schools will serve as distribution centres. 

The statement noted: “Take home rations will be used  as means of distributing   food items to house holds, registered under the National home grown feeding  programme.” 

“The Ministry had  earlier   liased with State governors on directives of  Mr. President to develop  strategies on the continuation of the school feeding programme, as the  children are staying at home. 

According to her, the  take home rations will be the best option that is  accepted globally  for school feeding programme,  adding that the items would be distributed to households because the school are currently at home as a result of the lockdown directive by Mr. President. 

“President Muhammadu Buhari had announced a lockdown in March  due to the COVID 19 pandemic with a mandatory  stay at home order to all including school children in FCT, Lagos and Ogun state.

“The Ministry  was also given a directive  to agree on modalities on  how best  food will be delivered to children in their homes.

“The target beneficiaries for the school feeding programme are  children  schooling in public schools in  Primary 1 to 3  who  are  registered with  the programme.

“Currently, a total of 3,131,971 house holds are targeted for the intervention, while  the  registration process will  be open to  accommodate others. 

“Though schools were  shut down and the children  are   staying at home,   the school feeding programme will  continue in order to promote education  and improve on enrollment.