ALGON backs FG’s South-South Food Bank programme

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Cross River State chapter, has pledged to support the Federal Government’s South-South Community Food Bank Programme and ensure the intervention reaches vulnerable families across the state’s 18 local government areas.

State ALGON Chairman, Yibala Inyang, described the initiative, recently launched by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, as timely amid economic hardship and growing concerns over hunger and malnutrition.

“At a time of economic challenges, providing access to food for disadvantaged families is a timely and commendable intervention,” Inyang said.

“ALGON will cooperate with relevant agencies to ensure the food bank reaches vulnerable families at the grassroots.”

The Food Bank Initiative is targeted at providing food support to poor and vulnerable households in the South-South region.

Inyang also defended the N36 million contribution by the 18 local government councils towards the revitalisation of the state-owned Nigerian Chronicle, saying the intervention was necessary to save an important public institution from collapse.

“We backed this initiative because it is about preserving our heritage. The N36 million contribution from the 18 local government areas was about protecting heritage and saving a key state institution from collapse,” he said.

He described the newspaper corporation as an important platform for public information and civic education in Cross River State.

Inyang, however, challenged the management and journalists of the organisation to justify what he described as the “monumental investment” through professionalism, objectivity and responsible journalism.