Dangote’s N16bn Food Programme Triggers Excitement in FCT, Kogi

The N16 billion Annual National Food Intervention programme was launched last month by the organisation to support the poor and the vulnerable persons across Nigeria.

At the flag off on Tuesday in Abuja, the Senior Special Adviser to the President of Dangote Group, Ms Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, said 10,000 bags of 10kg rice were donated to the FCT for distribution to the beneficiaries.

According to her, the initiative is to support governments at all levels to cushion the effects of economic challenges in the country, noting that it started in 2024 when the company donated food worth N15 billion to all the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

She described her boss, Mr Aliko Dangote, as someone who is passionate about giving back to society, especially the needy.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, who was represented by Ango Abdullahi Suleiman, said the government appreciates Mr Dangote’s gesture, saying the businessman has contributed enormously to the economic development of Nigeria, while promising to ensure that the food items reach the poor.

In Kogi State, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Rabietu Okute, said 40,000 bags of 10kg rice have been received from the ADF and distributed to the poor and vulnerable persons in the state.

On the distribution process, she explained that it followed Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s directive, with a committee set up to ensure the food items reach vulnerable residents across the state.

Mrs Okute stated that the distribution was flagged off in the state on March 26, 2025.

“We shared the 40,000 bags of rice through the 21 Local Government Areas. The LGAs also shared the product to the 239 wards.

“Before this, a committee of 12 persons per Local Government was set up, and the state government moblized the committees. The products were distributed to vulnerable groups like the union of disabilities and the 23 orphanages in the state,” she said.

In his remarks, the General Manager for Community Affairs and Special Duties at Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, who supervised the distribution on behalf of ADF, said the food donation to Kogi would further boost the relationship between the company and the state.