The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has flagged off the distribution of 24,302 food baskets donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to vulnerable households across five states of the federation.
The agency’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, announced the commencement of the exercise in Birnin Kebbi during the flag-off of the Presidential Emergency Food Intervention for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Shanga Local Government Area, alongside the distribution of food baskets donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief).
Represented by the Director of Special Duties, Hajiya Fatima Suleiman, the NEMA boss disclosed that Kebbi State is among the five beneficiary states and will receive 4,399 food baskets under the KSrelief intervention. She explained that the assistance would be distributed to vulnerable households that had already been profiled.
Mrs. Umar commended the longstanding humanitarian partnership between NEMA and KSrelief, noting that previous interventions by the Saudi humanitarian organisation had provided critical support to internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups in Kebbi State.
She assured stakeholders that the distribution process would be conducted transparently and in line with established accountability standards through collaboration between NEMA, the Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and trained volunteers.
Speaking at the event, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to supporting vulnerable Nigerians through humanitarian interventions.
The governor also commended the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their continued generosity and support to people affected by hardship and humanitarian challenges.
Governor Idris urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the food items to support their households and cautioned them against selling the relief materials.
The food distribution exercise forms part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and its humanitarian partners to provide relief to vulnerable communities and strengthen food security across the country.