FG Flags-Off School Feeding Program In FCT

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Take-Home Kits for the National Home Grown Feeding Programme in Kuje, Federal Capital Territory.

Presenting the kits to beneficiaries on Thursday, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said the programme would be launched in Lagos and other states later.

The distribution is part of measures put in place by the federal government to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on parents of pupils who attend public schools.

Before the outbreak of Coronavirus, pupils in public schools in Primary 1 to 3 were fed daily to reduce the number of out- of- school children in the country.

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Speaking during the flag-off, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, said the intervention cost the federal government hundreds of millions.

She said: “This programme is funded by the Federal Government but implemented by the states. I am here to flag off the commencement of the modified program in the FCT and to conduct spot checks of the operations.

According to the Federal government, 3,131,971million households would benefit from the intervention.

The ration of food, which is expected to last each pupil for a month, contains a 5kg bag of rice, 5kg bag of beans, 500ml vegetable oil, 750ml of palm oil, 500mg of salt, 15pieces of eggs, and 140gm of tomato paste valued at N4,200.

She said the commencement of the school feeding programme today is based on Mr. President’s directive to the Ministry that we should liaise with State governments to develop strategies on the continuation of the school feeding programme.”

“Beginning today in Abuja, this programme will target parents and guardians of children in primary 1 to 3 in public schools participating in the programme and a total of 3.1 million households are targeted for this intervention.

“In addition to that, we also have the register from the school management where these children attend, so this is how we were able to identify the households where these children come from.”

The ration of food was handed over to 3512 parents and wards of pupils who attend public schools in the Kuje Area Council after their vouchers were verified by officials in charge of the programme.

The communities and number of households that benefited from the intervention are; Kuje Central SPS 820, Chibiri 388, Kwaku 380, Kabin Kasa 90, Gaube 830, Gidan Bawa 80, Gudunkarya 370, Kujekwa 22, Yenche 132 and Rubochi 300.

NAN