Pest invasion: Zulum distributes food, cash to 53,000 families in Dikwa

Babagana Zulum of Borno has distributed food and cash assistance to 53,000 families affected by pest invasion in Dikwa Local Government Area of the state.

Our correspondent reports that the items donated include food items for 18,000 male heads of households and cash support with clothing materials for 35,000 women.

Our correspondent also reports that the distribution, which took place at the premises of the Shehu of Dikwa’s palace, followed a massive invasion of quelea birds and other pests that destroyed most of the farmlands on which the community relies for livelihood.

Zulum, who supervised the exercise on Monday, said the intervention was to cushion the effects of the disaster and prevent a looming food crisis.

“The last time we distributed food items in Dikwa was about 18 months ago. This is because we believe there is improved security in the state and people have returned to farming, we reduced humanitarian support by 90 per cent.

“We here came today to support them because of the drought that affected them in 2024 year and the pest invasion that destroyed farmlands this season,” the governor said.

According to him, each of the 18,000 male heads of households received two bags of rice and sorghum.

He said 35,000 women received N10,000 each and a wrapper, amounting to a total of N350 million in direct cash assistance.

Zulum expressed delight that farmers in Dikwa were actively engaged in farming activities despite challenges.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthen agriculture, particularly in the area of pest control, to safeguard farmers from losing their outputs.