By: Abdullahi Inuwa
MAIDUGURI — In a sweeping humanitarian push, Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has flagged off the distribution of Ramadan palliatives to 300,000 households across the state’s 27 local government areas.
The large-scale intervention, launched Tuesday at Ramat Square in Maiduguri, is designed to cushion the economic hardship faced by vulnerable residents during the holy month of Ramadan.
Under the scheme, each beneficiary household will receive one bag of rice, one bag of millet, and 10 kilograms of sugar — essential staples aimed at easing the burden on families grappling with rising living costs.
Addressing a crowd of officials, beneficiaries and community leaders, Zulum delivered a stern warning against diversion of the relief materials.
“To the committee in charge of this distribution, let transparency be your watchword. Let fairness be your guide,” the governor declared. “These items are not for sale. They are not for your friends or family members who do not need them.
“They are for the widow, the orphan, the internally displaced, the farmer whose fields have not fully recovered, and the daily wage earner struggling to make ends meet. Any officer found diverting these items will face the full wrath of the law.”
The governor further directed that Christian residents observing the Lenten season — which coincides with Ramadan this year — should also benefit from the gesture, underscoring his administration’s inclusive approach.“This gesture will also touch the non-Muslims who are fasting the Lent which falls within the month of Ramadan,” Zulum ordered.
The move reinforces what observers describe as a consistent pattern of interfaith support under Zulum’s leadership. Annually, the governor approves food distributions to Christian faithful during Christmas and provides free transportation for non-indigenous Christians wishing to travel home for the holidays.
In separate remarks, Senator representing Borno Central, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, and Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijani, lauded the governor for standing by the vulnerable “in their most critical moment.”
Also speaking, the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Ali Abdullahi Isa, assured residents of a seamless and accountable distribution process, reaffirming SEMA’s readiness to deliver the items across all 27 LGAs without hitch.
The ceremony drew a strong turnout of political heavyweights, including members of the House of Representatives, Engr. Bukar Talba and Abdulkadir Rahis; Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdkarim Lawan; Acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe; and other top government functionaries.
Zulum’s latest intervention signals both relief for struggling families and a renewed call for integrity in public service — a message delivered loud and clear from Ramat Square.
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