Nigerians knock FG over N500m School feeding programme during lockdown

The Federal Government expended about N523.3 million on school feeding programme during the lockdown against the coronavirus pandemic, the Vanguard news paper reports.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (MHADMSD), Sadiya Farouq, announced this at the Presidential Taskforce briefing on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.

Farouk made the revelation against the rumours and speculations going around one of our key interventions of the government – the Home Grown School Feeding Programme.
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She said that the programmed was modified and implemented in three states following a March 29th, Presidential directive.
“It is critical at this juncture to provide details that will help puncture the tissue of lies being peddled in the public space.

“The provision of ‘Take Home Rations’, under the modified Home Grown School Feeding programme, was not a sole initiative of the MHADMSD.

“The ministry, in obeying the Presidential directive, went into consultations with state governments through the state Governor’s Forum, following which it was resolved that ‘take-home rations’, remained the most viable option for feeding children during the lockdown.

“So, it was a joint resolution of the ministry and the state governments to give out take-home rations.

“The stakeholders also resolved that we would start with the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states, as pilot cases,’’ the minister said.
According to her, each takes home ration was valued at N4,200 and that the figure was arrived at with proper consultation.

Meanwhile, some Nigerians have been reacting to the Minister’s claim, describing it as untrue and totally unacceptable

These are some of the reactions from Twitter:

@lovebeing93, No matter the iota of justification for this home grown feeding program, it will still lack element of common sense and wisdom
What is the rational?
We have to deal with this for another 3 years sadly.

@debornair99 Lmao, this country sha , one day we are going to stand up fight , and say enough

@kennyAdazie, Let’s stop complaining, we’ve accepted looting as part of our culture. The government & every other ministry is cashing out & cooking up unimaginable lies to justify the loot & a population of over 200m are doing NOTHING about it. Let’s remain docile jarey, this too shall pass!

@simon_barjonah, This woman is the biggest scammer on the African continent. When will the NASS investigate her? Let not their investigation be limited to NDDC alone. Buhari should also order a forensic audit of her ministry and the school feeding program.

@fihekaji, May God forgive you for this dangerous lies, no one single can testify of been a beneficiary of the said school feeding program during lockdown, this is corruption of the highest order.

@sanwoOlatunji, Haba Hon. Minister?
Lockdown and School feeding?
Let’s call it “Household Palliative” or Humanitarian … then it makes sense. COVID has done sufficient damage to the education system but weaponising it for … is unfair

@timodupe2015, We have seen the analysis of the Minister, we demand explanations from Lagos and Ogun state Governors as well as FCT Minister. They have been brought into this matter, and they must explain how and when the feed the children. We are watching and waiting.

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