Palliatives: FCTA Releases 12,000 Bags Of Rice To Area Councils

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has released 12,000 bags of rice and maize to the six area councils for distribution to vulnerable households.

The distribution of the food items which will hold for two days commenced in Kwali, Kuje, and Abaji area councils yesterday.

The secretary of the Area Council Services Secretariat, Bitrus Garki, on behalf of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in Kwali, said the exercise was part of the FCTA‘s distribution of palliatives to vulnerable residents, adding that each area council would get not less than 2000 bags of rice and maize.

He said, „You may recall that about two weeks ago, the FCT Administration organised an event where some of the food items were distributed to various groups. This includes area councils, representatives of 17 Chiefdoms, religious organisations, civil servants, and vulnerable groups.

The feedback we received from that exercise was incredibly encouraging, which is why we are expanding the distribution today. Today, we are gathered here to carry on with this noble gesture, aligning it with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which aims to instill hope for a better future for all Nigerians.

“Under this phase of the distribution, we are bringing the items closer to the people, ensuring direct outreach to the vulnerable groups, taking place simultaneously in all the six area councils of the FCT,”   he said.

The secretary urged the beneficiaries to utilize the items for the betterment of their families, advising them against selling the items, stressing that the gesture was meant to provide sustenance in these challenging times.

According to him, the initiative was an integral part of the federal government‘s approach to mitigate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy which unfortunately has resulted in increased food market prices.

Like in Kwali, the message was the same in Kuje and Abaji, where the secretaries of agriculture and rural development, social development secretariats – Lawal Kolo Geidam and Ibrahim Aminu, respectively spoke.

The chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chia, commended the Tinubu and FCT minister for the support and promised to ensure equitable distribution of the palliatives to the target beneficiaries.