Three die as gunmen ambush van conveying murder suspects to Osun correctional centre
Three die as gunmen ambush van conveying murder suspects to Osun correctional centre
August 26, 2021

Niger pupils, benefiting from the national home-grown school feeding programme, are being fed expired rice and given a quarter of an egg for their meals, Niger lawmakers have alleged.

The Assembly, in an investigation by some of its members alleged the programme is marred by a lot of malpractices and sharp practices from officials and vendors.

Disclosing the findings of the investigation while raising a matter of urgent importance during plenary, member representing Suleja Constituency, Liman Iya, said pupils are served poor and under-nourished meals.

“We wonder why primary school pupils in the state are served with poor and under nutritious meals. We are disturbed by this as it will defeat the purpose of the programme.

“I received a lot of messages showing pictures of the type of food being fed to the children. Our investigation showed that the type of rice is an expired quantity of rice and God knows how it was prepared.

“The ration given to the children is not enough. Certain meals that should be for one person are shared among three pupils.

“There are so many complaints across the state. So many malpractices are happening that need to be addressed,” he alleged.

Iya urged the Assembly to summon the state focal person of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme and all the focal persons in the local government areas to explain why the pupils are served such meals.

At the end of the deliberation, Niger Speaker Abdullahi Bawa Wuse said the state focal person for the programmes should appear to defend the allegations.

The Nation