By Faith Awa Maji, Katsina
The Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, said the prevailing food shortage ravaging the State has devastating effects on the people hence should be urgently addressed.
Also, Radda appealed for an urgent attention to the continuous attacks by terrorists in the State.
He made this known while speaking at a meeting with Nigeria’s Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Mr. David Stevenson in Abuja.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed and issued to newsmen in Katsina, “we appreciate the World Food Programme for acknowledging the severe challenges we face in the North-West.
“Governor Dikko Umaru Radda appealed for immediate intervention in the escalating security crisis gripping the North-West region of Nigeria and shed more light on the gravity of the crisis.
“The epicentre of conflicts has shifted from the North-East where Boko Haram’s activities have significantly decreased, to the North-West and we are now at the forefront of this war zone.
“Governor Radda said his administration since assuming the office nearly a year ago, has initiated numerous efforts to combat insecurity but the situation remains dire.
“We are grateful that the World Food Programme has turned its attention to the North-West. While this intervention comes at a critical time, it is not too late. We desperately need assistance to address these challenges.
“During the last Ramadan fasting period, we provided meals for 72,000 people every day for 30 days.
“Additionally, we distributed foodstuff worth N10 billion in collaboration with the local governments, selling them at subsidized rates to assist the poor and displaced in their communities.
“And, approximately 43,000 less-privileged individuals, including disabled persons, widows, and orphans received foodstuff and financial aid; each of the beneficiaries received a bag of rice and N10,000.
“We have launched a programme to train 3,000 young men and women in mechatronics, providing stipends during their six-month training.
“We have allocated N3.4 billion through the Katsina State Enterprises Development Agency, in partnership with Amana Micro Finance Bank, to support these trainees in establishing workshops and recruiting others.”
“We are creating a mechanization centre to make modern farming equipment accessible at subsidized rates and this week, we plan to distribute 400,000 bags of fertilizer, worth N22 billion,to farmers”, the statement.
Earlier, the WFP Country Director, David Stevenson, explained that the purpose of the meeting was for him to have a first hand briefing on the situation in Katsina and how the WFP can intervene.
He noted that the World Food Programme has been involved in the North-East providing humanitarian services among other interventions in the geo-political zone.
