The Aliko Dangote Foundation, on Monday, officially launched a major philanthropic programme in Zamfara State, doling out food items running into several millions of naira to support victims of insurgency.
The farmers-herders clash and sporadic attacks by cattle rustlers have displaced thousands, many of whom are currently seeking refuge at Maradun local government area of the State.
Group Executive Director, Government Relations and Strategic Relations, Mansur Ahmed, who presented the food items on behalf of the Group President, Aliko Dangote, said the Foundation was supporting the government and traditional leaders in meeting the needs of the IDPs.
An engineer, identified simply as Ahmed, said Mr Dangote was very disturbed about the plight of the displaced persons and quickly directed that everything possible be done to provide succour.
Mr. Ahmed said the company was building a 200,000-ton capacity of rice mill in Maradun and that when completed in 2019 it would create hundreds of job opportunities for the people of Zamfara State.
The Emir of Maradun, Muhammad Tambari, said he was highly elated as the company is the first to intervene by providing food support for displaced persons.
He commended Dangote for the gesture and promised to help secure his investment in his emirate.
Chairman of the Maradun Local Government, Yahayah Maradun, thanked the Dangote Foundation for the gesture.
Trucks of food items were seen being offloaded at the silos and at the official presentation of the relief material at the Palace of the Emir of Maradun.
Some of the items delivered include: trucks of semolina, sphagetti, sugar, wheatmeal and Macaroni.
Farmer-herdmen clashes have resulted in over 3,000 deaths, about 100,000 displaced, of which about 30,000 are in Maradun LG, and over 500 people kidnapped.
Dangote Foundation had injected over N7billion to reducing the effect of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.
