Kebbi State government has taken swift action in response to the recent incidents of theft at a government warehouse in Birnin Kebbi. A 13-member panel, led by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Shehu Mu’azu, has been tasked with investigating the looting and developing strategies to prevent future occurrences.
During a State Executive Council meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Alhaji Umar Abubakar-Tafida, the decision to establish the committee was made. In addition to addressing the theft, the council also approved a subsidy of N3.34 billion to support 3,344 Muslims embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. This subsidy, amounting to N1 million per pilgrim, aims to alleviate the financial burden caused by fluctuating exchange rates.
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmad, emphasized Governor Nasir Idris’s commitment to religious values and societal harmony through this gesture. He highlighted the government’s contribution of N1 million per pilgrim towards the additional Hajj fares requested by NAHCON.
The investigative committee will focus on identifying the root causes of the looting, apprehending the perpetrators, and proposing preventive measures. Despite the challenges faced, efforts by security personnel have resulted in the recovery of over 2,000 bags of grains, mitigating some of the losses.
With a deadline set for Friday, the committee is expected to deliver comprehensive findings and recommendations to enhance the security and stability of food distribution systems in Kebbi State. Mu’azu stressed the importance of understanding the incident’s causes, identifying those involved, and advising the government to prevent future incidents.
Through this proactive approach, Kebbi State aims to address the recent thefts and strengthen measures to safeguard against similar occurrences in the future.
