News
School feeding programme: Rivers lawmaker attack Humanitarian Affairs minister, says, ‘it’s conduit pipe for looting’
Member representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, Hon. Farah Dagogo has lashed at the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Social Development and Disaster Management over the Federal Government’s school feeding programme.
He said the exercise at a precarious time of COVID-19 lockdown was not only a misplaced priority, but it is one of those scams that has reduced the country to where it is.
Reacting to the exercise that was due to begin in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun on Thursday, the lawmaker was appalled that there was such a misplacement of priority by the government that claims to fight corruption and they want Nigerians to believe them.
“How could such programme be successful when the targetted school children are at home”, noting that certain persons have entrenched their selfish agenda.
In a statement which was signed by his media Aide, Ibrahim Lawal and made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Dagogo assured that if the Federal government goes ahead with the “National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, NHGSFP, Covid-19, there would be financial sleaze at the end.
“Schools are already shutdown and pupils in the homes of their parents and guardians, it smacks of a desperate ploy not only to further rip us off our commonwealth, but also turn the programme to an epicenter of sleaze.
“This is an unpopular move at this time of COVID – 19 lockdown. They rather channel the billions already earmarked for the School feeding jamboree into the country’s health sector.
“Having gauged the pulse of my constituents and those of others from other constituencies, I want to strongly urge the Federal Government to have a re-think on the matter of continuing with the Home Grown School Feeding Program now.
According to him, a situation like this has always been an opportunity for corrupt elements to embezzle funds insisting that the outbreak of the virus has exposed the country’s health sector.
He called on government to invest hugely in the nation’s health sector in order to change the narrative.
“The Federal Government will on Thursday, formally flag off the School feeding scheme running into billions of naira despite closure of schools in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has not only succeeded in exposing the decay and rot in our health sector, it has also shown that lies and deceit cannot last forever.
“How do you justify spending billions of naira on a bogus school feeding programme when schools are in lockdown? How does it even sound? Is this not part of the corruption we claim we are fighting?
“According to Abraham Lincoln ; you can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. That’s exactly what is playing out.
“The program could be re-introduced and re-invigorated after the fight against COVID-19 pandemic has been won and things normalized.
“We are in a critical time that requires equally critical execution of policies. If this Government wants the support and respect of Nigerians, it should desist forthwith from policies which could be termed ‘ Scam’.
“Nigerians are intelligent and see through all these subterfuges that aim to further rip us off our commonwealth. ” he added.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
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