BY Maryam Abdullahi
The Kwara government has commenced the distribution of 250,000 bags of rice to the poor and vulnerable residents in the state.
NAN reports that the bags of rice were procured with the N2 billion received from the federal government as palliative to cushion the effect of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The federal government had earlier announced a N5 billion palliative for each state of the federation, including the federal capital territory (FCT), to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara, represented by Yakub Salih, speaker of the house of assembly, said the grains would be distributed across the 16 LGAs in the state.
“Palliatives are a stop-gap measure to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy on the most vulnerable among us,” AbdulRazaq said.
“Today, we are flagging off the distribution of the first consignments of rice we purchased with the N2 billion so far received from the federal government.
“We are distributing at least 250,000 10kg bags of rice in this phase. Beneficiaries will be identified on a nonpartisan basis by the committee of eminent Kwarans.
“This committee has continued to consult with different blocs of our communities as well as evidence-based registers of vulnerable people domiciled with key agencies of government, such as the health insurance, primary healthcare agencies and the World Bank.
“We are a resilient people. I have no doubt that we will emerge from this tough situation much better and stronger as a nation.
“On that note, I have the honour to flag off the distribution of these palliative.
“I urge our people to trust the committee to do justice to the assignment, bearing in mind that the whole essence of this modest effort is to show concern to the plight of the people, especially the most vulnerable among us.”
The governor said the rice distribution is the first batch of the palliatives, adding that more initiatives would be implemented in subsequent phases.
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