From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Governor of Yobe State, Dr. Mai Mala Buni, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support to vulnerable Nigerians, as he flagged off the distribution of Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition Items to households across the state.
The flag-off ceremony, held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Damaturu, was attended by government officials, politicians, traditional and religious leaders, and representatives of vulnerable groups, including persons living with disabilities.
Speaking at the event, Governor Buni praised the Federal Government for its continued support to vulnerable communities in Yobe.
He noted that the Federal and State Governments are working in synergy to strengthen the State Recovery Programme and restore hope to communities affected by hardship and displacement.
“The support from the Federal Government complements our ongoing efforts to improve the living conditions of vulnerable citizens and rebuild communities impacted by insurgency,” Governor Buni said.
He also highlighted that the United Nations has recognised Yobe State as a role model in the resettlement and reinvigoration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.
Governor Buni expressed optimism that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management would continue to collaborate with the state government to ensure households in need receive adequate support.
He commended the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for conducting a successful registration exercise, which captured 488 households comprising 1,699 individuals.
He described the initiative as a major step toward strengthening the state’s humanitarian database and ensuring transparency and accountability in targeting beneficiaries.
The governor also advised beneficiaries to use the items judiciously for their wellbeing and that of their families, cautioning against selling the items.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Yusuf Tanko Bununu, said President Tinubu approved the special intervention to support vulnerable households across ten states in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions.
Hon. Bununu noted that more than 30 million Nigerians are currently at risk of extreme hunger and poverty, particularly among vulnerable groups.
He commended Governor Buni for prioritising the welfare of vulnerable citizens and highlighted Yobe as one of the few states operating an online platform for identifying vulnerable persons, promoting transparency and accountability.
In her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr. Mairo Amshi, assured that the distribution of the items would be carried out transparently to reach the targeted beneficiaries.
She also appreciated the Federal Government and development partners for their continued support to vulnerable persons and people living with disabilities in the state.