National Telescope national telescope newspaper
The Federal Government has flagged-off the distribution of school feeding programme in Kuje Area Council Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday, 14th May, 2020.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq during the ceremony said that Lagos and Ogun states would be the next target to flag off.
She said the Federal Government would continue work with state governments to ensure that the programme benefits over 3.1 million households.
The Minister who stressed that the programme is being funded by the Federal Government, noted that the implementation of the rest aspect lies on the state governments.
“The Ministry in consultation and collaboration with State governments identified the distribution of Take-Home Rations (THR) to the households of the children on the programme as a feasible method of achieving this directive after exploring several options.
“This is a globally accepted means of supporting children to continue to have access to nutrient-rich foods despite disruptions to the traditional channels of school feeding.
“Beginning today in Abuja, this programme will target parents and guardians of children in primary 1 to 3 in public schools participating in the programme and a total of 3.1 million households are targeted for this intervention.
“In addition to that, we also have the register from the school management where these children attend, so this is how we were able to identify the households where these children come from.”
The ration of food was handed over to 3512 parents and wards of pupils who attend public schools in the Kuje Area Council after their vouchers were verified by officials in charge of the programme.
The communities and number of households that benefited from the intervention are; Kuje Central SPS 820, Chibiri 388, Kwaku 380, Kabin Kasa 90, Gaube 830, Gidan Bawa 80, Gudunkarya 370, Kujekwa 22, Yenche 132 and Rubochi 300.
“Hunger is a serious by-product of this pandemic crisis, which is why, from the onset, the Ministry has been evolving strategies to facilitate humanitarian interventions.
“The commencement of the school feeding programme today is based on Mr. President’s directive to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to liaise with State governments to develop strategies on the continuation of the school feeding programme.” She said.
