A TOTAL of N4.5 billion has been spent by the Federal Government to feed 228,646 pupils in Gombe State since the school feeding programme started in 2016.
The National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), Dr Umar Bandir, made the declaration in Gombe on Thursday while donating 225,000 branded plates to Gombe State government for the programme.
Bandir represented the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, at the occasion.
He said 1,234 schools in Gombe State had benefitted since the programme began.
The NSIP National Coordinator said that the Federal Government was considering the possibility of increasing funds for the programme for more children to benefit adding that it is one out the four clusters of the NSIP designed to address poverty.
He reiterated that while the Federal Government provided funds for the programme, state governments had the responsibility of ensuring its smooth implementation.
In his response, the Secretary to Gombe State government, Abubakar Njodi, assured that the donation would be used judiciously.
