From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano state Government on Tuesday described as mischievous, reports indicating that grains sent to Kano by the Federal Government as palliatives were left to perish under rain.
The AUTHORITY reports that the Federal Government sent trucks of grains to support the palliative programme of Kano state Government.
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje upon receipt of the palliatives handed them over to the State Fund Raising Committee on COVID-19 chaired by the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello.
Prof. Bello during a recent Press Conference said the distribution of the second phase of the Palliatives which is targeting 50000 house holds would commence immediately after Sallah holidays.
The Committee saddled with the responsibility of distributing parliatives to the poorest of the poor to cushion the effects of COVID-19 lockdown covered 50000 house holds in the first phase.
It is expected to cover 300000 house holds.
However, some online media platforms had alleged that trucks of Palliatives sent by Fedral Government to Kano were left to the mercy of sun and rain at the warehouse of state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO).
Kano state Government has denied this allegation, describing the story as “mischievous.”
According to a Statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, Kano state Government urged the public to disregard, “the roguish which is being peddled by some disgruntled elements to discredit the effort of the government at all cost.”
The Statement added that, “considering that even before the food items were sent, Kano has recorded its first rainfall, proper arrangements were made to take care of the grains.
‘’We took into consideration that the rainy season has already set and took measures to protect the grains from getting destroyed by the prevailing hot weather occasioned by the scorching sun or rain by keeping them under waterproof tarpaulin.”
Malam Garba further stated that, “the State Fundraising Committee on COVID-19 which is keeping the custody of the food items is finalizing arrangement to commence distribution to the poor families in the state.
‘’Having completed the first phase of the distribution exercise completed the first phase of distribution of palliatives donated by corporate organisations and individuals to the deserving households across the 484 political wards in the 44 local government areas of the state, as soon as we are done with the arrangement, the second phase sent by the federal government will commence,.”
He commended the people in the state for their support and understanding in the prevailing challenges posed by the global pandemic.
