Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, on Friday, began distribution of food items through Edo state food support programme to the poor and vulnerable people in the state.

More than 60,000 vulnerable people would benefit from the first phase of the programme, which would be distributed through churches and mosques in the state.

Mr Obaseki had on March 8, began a N1 billion monthly Feed-the-Hungry initiative to cushion the effect of the economic hardship on the poor and vulnerable people in the state.

According to Mr Obasemi, the state government will provide funding, while the various religious leaders in the state will drive the process through churches and Mosques.

Inaugurating the distribution through the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benin, Mr Obaseki noted that the gesture was to feed those, who could not afford full meals a day.

Mr Obaseki said the initiative, being the first phase, would target more than 60,000 vulnerable individuals in the state.

He said that the initiative, which had the potential to make significant difference in the lives of those in need, would go beyond food distribution to skills acquisition.

“I realised that from the number of calls I was receiving, the number of people who cannot afford one square meal a day is rising.

” So, I called the religious leaders to a meeting and explained to them what I wanted to do. And that is how we teamed up and came up with this initiative.

“In all the meetings I had with them, I and my special adviser on religious matters were the only government officials that were present.

“I did that because I did not want it to be political, i did it for God and not for politics, so I didn’t involve government officials.

“So in that meeting, I told them that I would give them N1billion every month for three months in the first phase and let’s see how many people we can feed, ” he said.

According to him, today we are inauguratingg the first phase so that we can give food to those who cannot afford food.

The governor thanked the chairman of CAN and heads of various Christian blocks in the state for the effort they have put in to ensure the success of the programme.

“What we are seeing here today shows that our christian leaders are really men of God and they care about our people. This programme is a success.

“We are also doing something similar for the muslims because we want an all inclusive Edo where everyone who live here will feel that they are part of the state, ” he added.

Earlier in his welcome address, the state chairman of CAN, Apostle Irekpono Omoike, thanked the governor for the kind gesture, adding that the programme was the first of its kind in the state.

Mr Omoike said that 3,000 bags of 10kg rice would be distributed to churches in each of the 18 local government areas amounting to 54,000 bags.

According to CAN, the balance of 6, 000 bags will go to churches that are not registered with CAN. 

(NAN)