Kano State chapter of the Alumni Association National Institute for Strategic Studies (AANI), has distributed food items to 500 households to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Alhaji Kabiru Bashir, Director of Administration of the association, made the disclosure at the distribution of the food items on Wednesday in Kano.

Bashir said the gesture was aimed at cushioning the hardship faced by the people occasioned by the COVID-19 lockdown in the state.

He said that the food items were distributed to identified beneficiaries to assuage their sufferings during the lockdown.

Bashir listed the items to include rice, cooking oil, tomato paste, spaghetti, and noodles.

The director added that the distribution was a sequel to directives by the National President of the Association and former Inspector General of Police, Muhammad D Abubakar.

He explained that the gesture was also to support the Kano State Government in alleviating the suffering of the people as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are challenged by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, therefore, such distribution will be a continuous process whereby the poorest of the poor, elderly, and also the vulnerable will benefit from the gesture.

“The same gesture has so far been extended in Abuja, Lagos, and now Kano. Over N12 million has been expended through personal donations from our members.,” he said.

He added that similar gesture would be extended to other states, depending on the availability of donated fund

According to him, the association would embark on the distribution of face masks to the residents in Kano as part of the Alumni efforts to stem the spread of the virus.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, commended the gesture.

Garba, represented by Nasir Tahir, the Director, Public Enlightenment of the ministry, called on individuals and organizations to emulate the gesture.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to work in collaboration with associations to move the state forward.