The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development has concluded plans with State Governments to continue the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme even though schools are currently closed using a door-to-door voucher distribution system.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq announced that the programme will give priority to Lagos, Ogun, and FCT but will extend to all states currently participating in the program for a period of 30 days.
“Vouchers will allocate collection time to avoid overcrowding. The vouchers will be redeemed at designated distribution sites,” she said.
“Existing aggregators will provide the food items. Distribution sites will be situated within the communities and in some States within the Schools by hand washing points. Safety and hygiene precautions will be observed,” She added.
The Minister explained that the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program supervised by the Ministry had so far distributed N20,000 each to 110,202 existing beneficiaries on the National Social Register in seven States across the Nation. Farouq said payments will soon commence in 17 additional States.
“It is important to highlight that since the creation of the Ministry, we have piloted digital payment in 6 States and part of the overhaul of the CCT program is transitioning to digital payments across all participating States. This is a priority and we are actively working to transition the mode of payment all across the states.” She said.
The Minister said the National Emergency Management Agency is ready to deploy 45,000 metric tons of food items to households of satellite towns in front line States; Lagos, FCT, and Ogun with particular emphasis on vulnerable households as directed by the President.
She stated that the North East Development Commission has provided 11,000 Personal Protective Equipment, 12 ventilators, 6,000 surgical masks, 3,000 ordinary masks, 192 infra-red thermometer, 2,400 hand gloves, and 2,500 hand sanitizers to 6 states in the North-East geopolitical zone.
Source: VON
