School Feeding Programme Is Not Targeting School Children- Humanitarian Affairs Minister Proclaims.

School  Feeding Programme Is Not Targeting School Children- Humanitarian Affairs Minister Proclaims.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has received hot and burning criticisms over the school feeding program despite the persistent lockdown across the country.

It could be recalled that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs  budgeted over #13.154 billion for school feeding program scheduled to commence on Thursday, 14th May,  2020 with the flag off ceremony in Abuja.

Meanwhile,  a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Information,  Mrs Rhoda Ishaku Iliya emphasized on the fact that the target beneficiaries of the programme are children in Primary 1 to 3 in public schools participating in the programme.

Contrary to the statement above, the Honourable Minister,  Hajia Sadiya Farouq said the home grown feeding programme is not targeting school Children but parents/guardians/caregiver of primary 1-3 children enrolled on the programme.

The Minister stressed that each beneficiary will receive a take home ration made up of 5kg of bag of rice, 5kg bag of beans, 500 ml vegetable oil, 750 ml palm oil, 500 mg of salt, 15 pcs of eggs, 140gm tomato paste and the programme will impact 3, 131, 971 households across the nation. Adding that the only difference is that instead of children getting cooked meals in school,  their parents/guardians would get food items.

"The programme will run in all the states that are in the program including FCT. It will start from Abuja then Lagos and Ogun before extending to other states. The Federal is funding while the states are implementing. To ensure transparency in the process,  the ministry has invited other agencies of government including the DSS, EFCC, ICPC and a host of NGos and CSOs to monitor." She said.

The home grown feeding  programme is sequel to a Presidential  directive of march 29th 2020 which mandated the Ministry to work with state governments in finding ways of feeding school children during lockdown.