The Ondo State Government through its palliative committee, on Tuesday flagged off the distribution of palliatives to vulnerable households across the 18 local government areas of the state.
The government who said it was aware of the hardship faced by citizens, disclosed that the food palliatives will get to the targeted beneficiaries.
At the flag-off of the distribution of the palliatives on Tuesday in Isua, headquarters of Akoko South East Local Government Area, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, disclosed that 1,200 bags of rice will be distributed to 6,000 households in the council area.
Ademola-Olateju informed the people of the area that the initiative is meant for all residents of the state regardless of their political affiliations.
According to her, “Today, we are kicking off the distribution of palliatives to Ondo State residents and it happens that the four local government areas in Akoko are the first to be distributed.
“There will be five people to a bag of rice and here, we have trucks coming in to take the palliatives to various towns in Akoko South East comprising Ipesi, Sosan, Ifira, Epinmi, Isua among others. We have 1,200 bags of rice for Akoko South East and we are targeting 6,000 households in the local government”.
She further stated that the palliatives were part of the delivery taken from the Federal Government and the one paid for by the state government.
Ademola-Olateju said religious groups, market women, trader associations among others would benefit from the palliatives.
“We have selected the most vulnerable households but based on our experience while we are drawing the list, we have seen that we will go very far. We have a Muslim community, Christian Association, Market women, traders association, tailoring association, and Iyalojas among others.
“We have been very diligent in making this selection. We will learn a lot of lessons from the distribution. Whatever lessons we learn, we are going to share it with the main committee and we hope we don’t learn bad lessons even if we learn bad lessons, we hope to gain from them because this is the first tranche and lesson we are improved upon.
“We will repeat the successes recorded and if there is any bad lesson, we will mitigate it at another time, so we will not make the same mistake again”.
Ademola-Olateju also disclosed that other local governments in the state will soon get their share of the Palliatives.
According to her, besides rice, other local food items would be procured and distributed to the poor people in the state using the existing data in the communities in the state.
“For local governments like Idanre, Odigbo, and Okitipupa among others coming behind us, we will tell them our experiences in the field today”.
Also, Mr Suleiman Muritala Babatunde, Ondo State House of Assembly member representing Akoko South East, expressed gratitude for the palliatives.
He said, “As a representative of the people, I am glad that this is happening in my local government. I would like to thank the Federal Government in conjunction with the state government for providing these palliatives.
“I also thank the state for prompt action and delivery of the palliatives. We carried along traditional worshipers, traditional rulers, Christian and Muslim groups, artisans, and most of the segments that make up our community in Isua.
“These are the people who produced the list with us that we will distribute to. The process was free and fair,” he said.
Similarly, Alhaji Saliu Jamiu, Chief Imam of Akoko South East Local Government Area, thanked Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State for the palliatives.
“They have given us plenty of rice in this local government which has touched almost everyone and we thank the governor because he said so, and he did so,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pastor Gideon Onibato, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Akoko South East Local Government Area, appreciated God for the palliatives.
He said the masses had been praying to God for such palliatives due to the situation of the country.
“With this, we know that a new beginning is coming in our country. We appreciate the Federal Government and the State Government,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the Isua Community, Mr Akin Aibinuomo, the former Chairman of Akoko South East LGA, said the community was given 160 bags of 50kg of rice as palliatives.
According to him, the people are happy because the oil subsidy has made it a little difficult for the people, but this gesture shows that the government has feelings for the people.
