THE PUNCH
Confusion is trailing the Federal Government’s palliatives package to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory stemming from distribution hitches, alleged underhand dealings and inadequacy of the materials to meet the needs of Nigerians.
While some of the states have taken custody of the funds and food items earmarked for distribution to residents as palliatives, others have yet to receive such amid agitation by the citizens.
The Federal Government, on Thursday, announced the release of a N180bn palliative package to states to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
Each state is expected to get N5bn and 180 trucks of rice as part of measures to assuage the pains of the subsidy removal.
The removal of subsidy on petrol, which was announced by President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on Monday, May 29, 2023, has led to sharp and multiple increases in fuel pump prices, driven up the prices of goods and services, pushed millions of Nigerians into poverty and worsening the socio-economic situation in the country.
But announcing the release of the palliative at the end of the 135th National Economic Council meeting presided over by Vice-President Kashim Shettima in Abuja, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, disclosed that the N5bn was to enable the state governments to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize and fertilizers to cushion the effect of food shortage across the country.
He added that considering the urgency in meeting the need to mitigate the skyrocketing food prices across the country, the Federal Government had last week released five trucks of rice to each state of the federation.
The governor explained, “This funding has to be shared with a formula as follows: 52 per cent of this money is given to the states as grants, while 48 per cent of the N5bn is to be paid back on an instalment basis within a period of 20 months to the CBN by the states and the local government areas in Nigeria.
“The council has taken bold decisions in order to ensure the speedy release of grains and other items to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on the underprivileged in society.”
Some states of the Federation have begun sharing the palliatives released by the Federal Government, but others are still waiting for the materials to arrive
Among the states to have commenced the distribution of the palliative items are Kwara, Osun, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, and Gombe, while Sokoto, Kebbi, Oyo, Katsina and Borno have unveiled plans to distribute the items to residents.
Kwara
In Kwara, the state government confirmed on Friday that it received two truckloads of rice comprising 1,200 bags from the Federal Government on Tuesday, August 8, which it said would be shared with the people.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said at a press conference that another three truckloads of rice or 1,800 bags had arrived in the state and would be shared to the people by the committee set up to distribute the palliatives.
Ajakaye said that the committee chaired by the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi, comprised traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, security agencies and community leaders.
He added that the committee would generate the list of those that would benefit from the palliatives, adding that the composition cuts across all strata of society, including people with disabilities.
The government also confirmed receipt of N2bn out of the N5bn relief fund that the Federal Government released for the purchase of rice to be distributed en masse to vulnerable members of the public.
The state also said it awaits a balance of N2bn of the fund as well as N1bn worth of maize (40,000 bags), which the Central Bank of Nigeria is selling to each state from the national strategic reserve.
However, residents of some wards in the state expressed displeasure over the insignificant quantity of rice they received.
In a trending video on social media, some residents of Adewole Ward in the Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state were seen walking away from the venue of the distribution of foodstuffs in the Agunbelewo area.
The residents said the entire Agunbelewo was allocated six measures of rice, which is about one and a half paint plastic containers out of the eight bags allocated to the Adewole Ward, where the state governor, AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, hails from.
One Mallam Yinusa Magaji, who identified himself as a leader in the area, said all the residents of the Agunbelewo area were given six measures of rice to share.
He said, “We received six measures of rice out of one bag allocated to three areas of Agunbelewo, Gaa Odota and Adewole Housing Estate in the Adewole Ward.
“We want the government to challenge us if they gave us more than six measures contained in this bag.”
Before he ended his speech, the crowd that gathered in the place had reduced, as many were said to have left in anger.
Reacting to the footage, Ajakaye described it as the handwork of members of the opposition party in the state.
“The person addressing the people in the video is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Adewole Ward. It is sad that people are playing politics with the good intention of the Federal Government,” he stated.
Ajakaye, who said the government had good intentions and meant well for the people of the state, added that he had it on good authority that the government had directed that food items be distributed to the residents through their traditional rulers.
He explained, “I learnt that everyone should be given one paint bowl of rice, which is about 4kg, and no one should be given less.
“If a household is given a bag of rice and the leadership of the household devises a sharing formula, I don’t think that is the fault of the government.”
In a viral video, some residents of Osun State lamented that they had yet to receive the palliatives promised by the Federal Government.
However, the spokesman for the governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said the palliatives were yet to be distributed, urging the residents to hold on for the last batch of rice to be received.
In an interview with one of our correspondents, Rasheed said the government would issue the template for the distribution when the last truckload of rice with 600 bags arrives.
He said, “The government has so far received four truckloads making it a total of 2,400 bags of rice. Four truckloads were delivered last week. The last batch is expected any moment from now. The government is already presenting the template for the distribution across the states.
“The template will be released in the new week. Members of the public are informed that the government of Governor Ademola Adeleke will ensure equitable distribution to all sectors and sections of society.
“We urge the public to ignore any insinuation that the palliatives will not get to those who need it. This government is of the people, by the people and for the people.”
The state Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, corroborated Rasheed’s position and said the Federal Government approved 3,000 bags of rice for the state, adding that 2,400 bags had so far been received.
“Out of the five truckloads of rice to the state, we are waiting for the completion of the palliative supply before the announcement and distribution.”
