The Kwara State Government has flagged off the distribution of rice palliatives to the most vulnerable persons in the state, with the committee saying it will share at least 250,000 10kg bags in the first phase.
In what was an attempt to ensure non-partisanship, fairness, and equity, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on August 22, inaugurated the 12-person committee to coordinate the distribution of the palliatives purchased with the N2bn so far received from the Nigerian Government.
At the flag-off of the distribution in Ilorin, the state capital, the Governor said; “The palliatives are only a show of empathy with the people as more sustainable initiatives are being implemented in phases.”
According to the Governor, this is only a fraction of what the government has done to identify with the people at this very critical moment of our national life.”
Governor AbdulRazaq said that the Palliatives are a stop-gap measure to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidies on the most vulnerable.
The Governor disclosed that over the last few weeks, the government has rolled out different palliative measures to support the people in the formal and informal sectors.
He said that the government had distributed the five trucks of rice it received from the Nigerian Government.
“Beneficiaries will be identified on a nonpartisan basis by the committee of eminent people of the day and Kwara. 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 health insurance, primary healthcare agencies, as well as the World Bank. Distribution will be done by the timetable and logistics of the committee” he explained.
Governor AbdulRazaq stated that the most important aspect of the event is not the quantity or the sheer reach of the grains to be distributed but the most significant thing is the spirit of empathy that is behind what we are doing.
The government at all levels empathised with the people across all social strata of the society as they are committed to taking every step possible to help them cope with the inconveniences of this time.
Governor AbdulRazaq said that “huge investments are being made to boost the manufacturing sector, strengthen local production of food through commercial agriculture, local production and electric vehicles, and mass employment for young people in different aspects of the economy.”
He urged the 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 for the plight of the people, especially the most vulnerable.
He was represented by the Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu.
The committee chairperson, Commissioner of Police Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi said the flag-off marked the beginning of the exercise, which would see the palliatives being taken to all the 16 local governments after agreeing on the modalities with all the stakeholders and interest groups.
“The committee has the mandate to distribute approximately 250,000 bags of 10kg rice and advised the government on the effective deployment of the N1bn worth of maize from the Maize Reserve (SMR) through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Livestock Farmers across the state,” she said.
Adelesi added that the committee has since started its assignment by directing the Director of Personnel Management (DPM) of the local government area to collaboratively work with the Primary Healthcare Development Agency. This is in a bid to generate a list of potential beneficiaries and vulnerable indigenes across the nooks and crannies of the state.
She explained that the exercise targeted as many vulnerable persons as possible, promising to deploy multi-dimensional and all-encompassing leadership acumen to ensure that the palliative items get to the targeted vulnerable across the three Senatorial districts of the state.
The event was attended by members of the palliative committee and beneficiaries of the first batch, including representatives of Persons living with disabilities; WOWICAN; Marketmen and Women group; Hausa community; Igbo Community; South-south community; Youth Council; NANS; Youth CAN; Orphanage; NUT; NUJ; TUC; FOMWAN; Non-indigene community; NURTW; NLC and Artisans groups.
In their separate responses, the representative of Persons with Disabilities Alfred Oluwole; the representative of FOMWAN, Hajia Bilqees Oladimeji; the representative of WOWICAN, Mrs. Kehinde Awe; and the President, of Kwara State Artisans Congress, Alhaji Jimoh Adeshina applauded Governor AbdulRazaq for the initiative.
“We know the cost of a bag of rice in the market today. So, we thank the Nigerian and state governments for this initiative. We appreciate our able and unique Governor for his passion for improving the welfare of the citizenry,” Adeshina said.
He said; “We are grateful to the state government for following the steps of the Nigerian government for this bold initiative. We’re very grateful.”
Some beneficiaries took turns to commend the government for the palliatives.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
