Dangote votes N15b for palliatives

The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, through the Aluko Dangote Foundation (ADF), has launched his food intervention programme in Kano.

The programme, valued at N15 billion, started with the distribution of over one million bags of 10kg bags of rice across the 774 local government areas of the 36 states of the country, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Speaking at the official kick-off of the intervention programme, Dangote said it was a crucial step towards alleviating the economic challenges many Nigerians were facing.

The foremost industrialist said it was important to show compassion and generosity during the holy month of Ramadan, adding that all stakeholders must support the government to reduce hunger in the land.

“Our distribution of rice symbolises our commitment to upholding the values of compassion and solidarity, which are at the core of our humanity,” he said.

Dangote said ADF would spread the food intervention programme from March till early April.

For the distribution of the over one million 10kg bags of rice across the country, he said: “The modalities for the programme involve collaboration with state and local governments and local community partners to ensure effective delivery of the rice to the most vulnerable across the country, regardless of state, tribe, gender, religion, politics, or other attributes.”

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ADF’s MD/CEO Zouera Youssoufo said the foundation was also distributing 10,000 iftar (breaking of fast) meals during the Ramadan period in Kano.

She said this was in addition to the foundation’s daily bread relief programme through which over 32,000 family-size loaves of bread are shared in Kano and Lagos states are distributed daily since 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was at the event, urged other wealthy Nigerians to support the government, like Dangote, in the provision of palliatives to cushion the harsh economic condition in the country.

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Yusuf said: “I do not have enough words to express my heartfelt gratitude to Alhaji Aliko Dangote on behalf of the good people of Kano State. This is because the gesture he is offering today will undoubtedly alleviate the burden of many families facing economic hardship in our state. “I urge all other wealthy individuals and businesses in our community to take heed of this noble example set by the Dangote Group and extend similar gestures of support to those in need in our dear state.”

Youssoufou explained that Dangote’s efforts at strengthening nutrition in Nigeria extended beyond the foundation’s food relief programmes and nutrition activities.

She said the group had been actively investing in food fortification across the Nigerian food industry.

“This programme marks the latest nutrition and humanitarian intervention by the foundation, continuing its tradition of impactful philanthropy. Since the 1990s, the foundation has been providing 10,000 cooked meals daily to the vulnerable in Kano State, reaching hospitals, schools, care homes, prisons, mosques, and individuals,” she said.