Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule on Tuesday, flagged off the distribution of palliatives which were meant to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removed by the federal government at the onset of the present administration.
The distribution of the palliatives was flaged-off at the palace of the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage.
Governor Sule revealed that out of the N5 billion promised by the federal government, only N2 billion has been received.
He, however, said that an additional 3,000 bags of rice was also received from the federal government.
“Today, we are here to begin the distribution of palliatives to residents of the state. You all have been hearing that N5 billion was released by the federal government. Yes, it is true that the amount was approved. But how it will be done is that N4 billion will be given as cash to each state while N1 billion worth of maize will also be given to each state.
“Out of the said amount, we have so far received N2 billion and we are waiting for the remaining palliatives from the federal government. So, we decided to start the distribution exercise to reduce the hardship on our people.
“We will be visiting all our polling units to give the items directly to the people because this is not about politics or a political party. It is for the entire people of Nasarawa State,” he explained.
He apologised to the people for the hardship they had to endure as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, even as he expressed joy that the palliatives would finally get to the people.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for coming up with the idea of the palliatives and ensuring that state governments received items as well as cash to implement same.
He promised that the items would get to the beneficiaries across all the 13 local government areas of the state.
