Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, has commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for distributing relief food baskets to 2,450 vulnerable persons and People with Disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
Flagging off the distribution exercise at the Bulasa suburb of Birnin Kebbi, the state capital on Wednesday, he said the gesture would go a long way in alleviating the plights of the vulnerable persons in the society.
Governor Idris, represented by his deputy, Sen. Umar Abubakar-Tafida, appreciated the food basket by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, Saudi Arabia.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the lives of 2,450 vulnerable families in Kebbi State, as we gather to flag off the distribution of relief food baskets donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre Saudi Arabia.
“We are deeply grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their unwavering support and generosity towards the people of Kebbi State.
“This is not the first time they have come to our aid, and we appreciate the cordial relationship that exists between our state and the Kingdom, particularly in matters related to Hajj.
“These relief food baskets will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of our vulnerable families, and we are thankful for the timely intervention,” he said.
The Governor urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the items for the good of their families.
He also commended the Federal Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the intervention and similar others in the past, saying that such interventions complemented the State Government’s efforts in providing succor to the people displaced by flood and other disasters in the state.
In her speech, the Director-General (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, represented by Mrs Fatima Kasim, Director, Special Duties, said: “Let me also specially appreciate and put on record, the contribution of our partners from the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Specifically from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), through whose benevolence we are here today to flag off the distribution of food baskets that they have provided through NEMA for our people that have been impacted by natural and human-induced disasters in this state.
“Today’s event marks a significant milestone in our partnership with KSrelief Centre which dates back to 2018.”
Since then, Umar said, the center has continued to entrust NEMA with humanitarian support in the form of food baskets that have been distributed directly to vulnerable persons in Borno, Yobe, Kano, Zamfara, Jigawa, and Katsina states.
According to her, the impact of these interventions has no doubt improved lives and given hope to the beneficiaries as evident in the positive testimonies of the people.
“Under the present food donation, the center has graciously extended the gesture to Kebbi and Adamawa States with a donation of 2,450 food baskets in each of the two states.
“Each of the benefiting households will have a total 59.8-kilogram basket of food, comprising 25kg of rice; 25kg of beans; 4kg of Masa Vita flour; 2kg of tomato paste; 2 liters of groundnut oil; 1kg of salt and 0.8kg of Maggi cubes.
“It is heartwarming that this distribution is timely, coming when the people are preparing to welcome the Holy Month of Ramadan.
“It is important to highlight the benevolence of the Government and the good people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in donating these food items that they have proven to be real friends and brothers of Nigeria,” she noted.
The D-G recalled that only few months ago, the centre took another bold step in its unwavering commitment by convening an international donor conference to further support the cause of the less privileged in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel Region.
