About 40,000 households were among the beneficiaries of a ₦120 million humanitarian aid intervention by governor Babagana Zulum in the Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State on Wednesday, March 9.

They were given foodstuff and other items to help vulnerable people in the area to make a sustainable livelihood and help them get out of the cycle of poverty and disadvantage.

RNI reporter Bintu Bulama said thousands of women had benefited from the aid intervention.

The governor’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, said in a statement that the food and other items were given to 24,000 women and 16,000 men.

A resident, Fatima, said each woman was given a wrapper – containing material for clothing – and ₦5,000. The men each received a 25kg bag of rice and a 25kg bag of maize.

She said vehicle and tricycle drivers also benefited. “Twenty vehicles and 40 tricycles were given to the people of Dikwa and the governor promised to help out welders in the area as well.”

Fatima said: “We are happy with the distribution, especially because so many women have benefited. We hope in future that we will be given more help from the governor.”

Wane, also a resident, said: “We got a lot of foodstuff, one bag of rice and a bag of maize for each man. Five vehicles were given to the troops in Dikwa, which will help them to keep the peace in the area.”

He said the people of Dikwa were happy and grateful for the help received from the governor.

In the statement, Gusau said the governor had assessed critical public services and had instructed workers to immediately begin building a mega-size Islamic school to meet the needs of the community.

AISHA JAMAL