Aliko Dangote Foundation Donates 30,000 Bags Of 50kg Rice To Vulnerable In Niger

Aliko Dangote Foundation donates 30,000 bags of 50kg rice to vulnerable in Niger. Mr Hashim said that the foundation’s intervention was to provide succour to the most vulnerable members of society

The Aliko Dangote Foundation on Saturday donated and distributed 30,000 bags of 50kg rice to support vulnerable residents in Niger.

The Group Managing Director, Dangote Group, Abuja, Ahmed Hashim, said that the donation was part of the foundation’s efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty among vulnerable Nigerians in the state.

He said, “We are committed to supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce poverty and hunger in Nigeria. Our donation of rice to Niger State is a demonstration of our commitment to support what the state government is already doing.’’

Mr Hashim said that the foundation’s intervention was to provide succour to the most vulnerable members of society, including widows, orphans, and the disabled.

The Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, said at the distribution of the rice in Minna that the gesture would alleviate hunger and poverty in the state.

He stated, “We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Aliko Dangote Foundation for this gesture. Poverty and hunger are multi-dimensional problems that require collective efforts to tackle. The state government is working tirelessly to eliminate poverty and hunger in the state.’’

Mr Garba reiterated the state’s ambitious plan to feed the nation, citing the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) code-named Niger Foods, which had transformed the state into a net exporter of assorted grains.

Aliko Dangote Foundation Donates

He announced that the state government had distributed 400 trucks of assorted grains to the 25 local government areas at a subsidised rate of 50 per cent since the commencement of the Ramadan.

He called on well-to-do individuals and large-scale retail marketers to emulate Aliko Dangote’s philanthropy by supporting the weak and downtrodden through charity or subsidised food sales.

EFCC Probes Man Over Alleged $578,000 Cash Smuggling

EFCC probes man over alleged $578,000 cash smuggling. Effiong Harrison, area comptroller of customs at the airport, handed the suspect over to the EFCC on Friday for falsely declaring currency.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun investigating Okorie Sunday, who was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with $578,000 by the Nigeria Customs Service.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, saying the suspect would be charged to court following the investigation’s conclusion.

Mr Oyewale explained that Effiong Harrison, area comptroller of customs at the airport, handed the suspect over to the EFCC on Friday for falsely declaring currency.

He said Mr Sunday arrived from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday and declared $279,000 at the currency declaration desk upon entry into the country.

However, customs officials discovered an additional $299,000 concealed in separate packages, bringing the total undeclared amount to $578,000, which led to his arrest. Further inspection revealed the suspect also hid €100 and a counterfeit $250 note.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC’s acting zonal director, Lagos, Ahmed Ghali, received the suspect, commended customs for their cooperation and emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration.

He urged the public to declare any amount above $10,000 when entering or leaving Nigeria, in line with the country’s money laundering regulations.

Mr Ghali appealed to citizens to avoid false declarations, warning them that the law would catch up with those attempting to undermine financial transparency.

“We will not permit any action that sabotages the economy or financial system, as such conduct increases the risk of money laundering and economic instability,” he said.

World Water Day: Open Defecation, Old Facilities Frustrating Supply Of Potable Water In Cross River

World Water Day: Open defecation, old facilities frustrating supply of potable water in Cross River. Mr Oko said that providing potable water was in Cross River State gradually becoming a challenge.

The Commissioner for Water Resources in Cross River, Bassey Mensah, has said that aging water facilities are limiting the performance of the state’s Water Board.

Mr Mensah said this on Saturday in Calabar during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the board to commemorate the World Water Day.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Glacier Preservation.”

The event comes up every March 22 to create awareness about water and inspire actions to tackle global water shortages.
The commissioner expressed concern over how people still queue up at commercial borehole points to buy water due to the shortage of supply from the water board.

He said, “In the 1970s, we fetched from public pumps and there should be no reason for system failure that made it difficult for us to access potable water. Cross River saw ahead and  established the best water facility in the nation but  it could not manage it because of erratic power supply. We also have nine treatment plants.

“The Calabar plant alone can feed four other Local Government Areas but the pipes laid 22 years ago are old and many had even been vandalised.”

Mr Mensah said that the state government was taking steps to revive the water board by putting together a Cross River Water Bill already passed by the  House of Assembly and awaiting the governor’s assent.

He said that immediately the water bill was agreed to, the water commission would into full implementation.
He stated, “This will disallow anyone to just  drill boreholes without proper assessment, which is dangerous to the environment.”

The General Manager, Cross River Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Sunday Oko, said that providing potable water was gradually becoming a challenge, especially in the rural communities.

Mr Oko described rural communities as the “national headquarters of open defecation,” which finds its way back into the water bodies that the people consume.

Bassey Otu

He added that Obanliku LGA was the first to attain the Open Defecation Free status but things were gradually going bad again.

He said that it was not enough to provide facilities but “the facilities need to be maintained by all and not vandalised.”

Appealing to the governor to assent to the water bill, he urged all hands to be on deck for the preservation and protection of potable drinking water.

“Activities like open defecation, excessive mining and many other activities inimical to the environment are also negatively affecting potable water supply; we need to stop,” he said.