Emergency Rule: Dangote Doles Out N1bn To Adamawa, Borno and Yobe

SAN FRANCISCO, July 19, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of the Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has doled out the sum of one billion naira as palliatives to the three North-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe under state of emergency.

The N1billion donation came on the heels of a similar N450 million grant to the three states by the Federal Government, which had initially approved the distribution of N1 billion worth of foodstuffs in the three states.

Announcing both donations to the Borno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima , on Friday, Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, said the money from the Federal Government will be shared according to the effect of the Boko Haram crisis on the states, with Borno getting N200 million, Yobe taking N150 million and Adamawa getting N100 million.

For the donation from Dangote, the minister said Borno is to receive N500,000 while Adamawa and Yobe States are to take N250,000 each.

Tijani, who said he was in the state to inaugurate the distribution of 650-truck load of relief materials worth over N1billion approved by President Jonathan Goodluck for the people in the three states, listed the relief materials to include maize, sorghum and wheat.

Expressing appreciation over the gestures, the governor assured that the money will be utilised for the good of the people of the state.

The donation came as the state was adjudged the best performing state in immunisation, mother and child healthcare by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Nigeria Governors’ Foundation.

Disclosing this in Maiduguri, the state capital, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammed Pate, revealed this in Maiduguri when he led a team of World Health Organisation (WHO) officials as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to present a plaque to Governor Shettima.

At the occasion, a letter of commendation written by Bill Gates was presented to the governor for his determined leadership to eradicate polio in spite of the security challenges in the state.

Shettima also assured that his administration would continue to be focused in eliminating polio as well as other mother-child related health problems in the state.