FG feeding 282,529 pupils in Zamfara – Minister

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development,  Hajiya Sadiya-Umar Faruk, has said a total of 282,529 pupils are presently being fed under the Home Grown School Feeding Programme in Zamfara. The Minister made the statement at a town hall meeting in Gusau on Monday.

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She said the scheme was being carried out in 1,759 schools all across the 14 local government areas of the state. Faruk added that 2,000 cooks were employed in the state to provide food to the pupils. At the town hall meeting, the minister explained that it was to identify, articulate, and derive solutions to the humanitarian and developmental challenges in the state.

“It must be noted that the COVID-19 lockdown, ongoing activities of armed bandits and the flooding experienced across the North West has led to the displacement of over 247,000 persons across Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi. “This has impacted on the economic and agricultural activities in Zamfara State, thereby, creating social and economic vulnerabilities.

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“This Townhall meeting is significant, as it will allow us to collectively communicate, identify, articulate and derive solutions to the humanitarian and developmental challenges that have arisen in Zamfara State from banditry, extreme weather conditions and the COVID – 19 pandemic,” she said. Faruk appreciated the commitment of Zamfara government in tackling the challenges of economic vulnerability and pledged that her ministry will continue to partner with the state to implement humanitarian, social inclusion, and protection measures.