The Aliko Dangote Foundation as part of its National Food Intervention Programme has donated 10,000 bags of 10kg of rice to the economically vulnerable in Enugu State. The State Government took delivery of the bags of rice at the weekend in Enugu.
The representatives of the 17 local governments areas gathered at the Michael Okpara Square where the food palliatives were allocated immediately for distribution.
The Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Legal Matters, Mr. Osinachi Nnajieze who was at the venue revealed that the bags of rice would be distributed equitably across all 17 Local Government Areas of the state. According to him, each LGA in the state would receive at least 588 bags of rice, which is expected to be distributed to those who need it most.
He warned the council chairmen against hording or sharing the rice to their family members, relatives, and friends, stressing that the gesture was meant for the indigent ones.
“So what we have decided to do as a state with what we received from the generosity of Aliko Dangote Foundation is to ensure that it goes to the most indigent, to those who need it the most. We are so determined to be equitable and very diligent in the sharing that I have literally told even the people around me not to expect any bag of 10kg rice.
“None of us is indigent as the people that we are targeting, which is the goal of the donor, Aliko Dangote Foundation, and also in line with the governance principles of our government,” Nnajieze said.
On his part, the State chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Okechukwu Ede appreciated the Chairman of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote for the kind gesture. Ede promised to ensure that the bags of rice are shared among the 17 LGAs, noting that none of the local government areas would be short-changed.
Speaking to newsmen after loading the share of Nkanu West and Enugu North Local government areas respectively , a staff in the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, Peace Daniel, who was recording and monitoring the distribution to local governments said the rice was shared equally to the 17 Local government areas in the state, with each getting 538 bags.
On his part, Mose Anu, one of representatives of Nkanu West Local Government Area, who came to collect on behalf of his Local Government, confirmed receiving 538 bags of 10 kg Dangote rice. He said the distribution to beneficiaries will be done at the various Local Government Areas on date that the Local Government will fix.
Meanwhile many trucks were seen loading and moving with out with bags of rice heading to various Local Government Areas.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) is distributing over one million 10 kg bags of rice valued at N15.5 billion to vulnerable Nigerians across the 36 States of the federation. The gesture from the philanthropic organisation established by foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, is to cushion the effects of the current high prices of food items in the country.
Distribution of the rice is ongoing throughout the 774 local governments across the country. The foundation is partnering State governments and credible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the states to ensure that the bags of rice get to the needy members of the society.