One week after the federal government announced the distribution of 740 truckloads of grains, including rice, to the 36 states, only five states have confirmed receipt of the grains.
At least 21 others said they are still waiting to take delivery of their share of the food palliatives.
The states that have taken delivery of their rice consignments are Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Kwara and Rivers.
However, Taraba, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Katsina, Enugu, Abia, Ekiti, Lagos, Cross River, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna and Zamfara, among others are still waiting for theirs.
LEADERSHIP recalls that, last week, in a move to address food insecurity, the federal government revealed that it had launched a nationwide rice distribution across the country, totalling 740 trucks,
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, who disclosed this to State House correspondents after
President Bola Tinubu presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, indicated that the items had already been distributed.
According to him, each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was to receive 20 trucks of rice, targeting the most vulnerable populations. Each truck would carry approximately 1,200 25kg bags, which amounts to about 24,000 bags of rice per state.
“The understanding is that about 20 trucks of rice have already been supplied to each of the states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory,” Idris stated.
He emphasised that this distribution is part of the government’s broader strategy to alleviate the hardship experienced by many Nigerians due to food shortages and urged state governors to ensure swift and equitable distribution of the rice to those most in need.
“It is expected that the state governors will go ahead and distribute this food item to the most vulnerable,” he said.
States confirm receipt of rice
The Anambra State government has received 20 trucks of rice, which the federal government promised as part of palliatives to cushion the effects of the current hardship facing the people across the country.
The executive secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Chief Paul Odenigbo, disclosed the federal government’s delivery of the rice palliatives to the state in a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP yesterday.
However, he said his agency was waiting for the “government” to determine the modalities for distributing the item.
Similarly, the Kwara State government has also received its share of the rice distribution.
A government official who pleaded anonymity confirmed this to LEADERSHIP yesterday.
For its part, the Rivers State government said it had received a total of 21,650 bags of grains from the federal government.
The secretary to the state government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, received 3,680 bags of garri and 17,970 bags of corn on behalf of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Again, LEADERSHIP learned on Monday that the Akwa Ibom government has received 24,000 bags of 25kg rice.
The state commissioner for information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, who confirmed this, said the state government was working out modalities to share the food items, especially to the vulnerable groups across the eight local government areas of the state.
Labour Asks Tinubu To Dialogue With Protest Leaders
Amidst a looming national protest against hunger and general hardship, organised labour has called on President Bola Tinubu to dialogue with protest leaders to address mounting grievances over the country’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, NLC president Comrade Joe Ajaero said the situation demanded urgent governmental intervention.
Citing recent assessments, including the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS’) country living standards index and data from the International Rescue Committee, Ajaero pointed out that a significant portion of Nigeria’s population lives below the poverty line, with millions experiencing acute hunger, unemployment, and underemployment.
He lamented that most Nigerian families are forced to eat only one meal daily or from the dustbin and called for serious government intervention.
Ajaero further condemned any dismissive characterisation of citizens’ plight as politically motivated dissent, asserting that such views failed to acknowledge the genuine suffering experienced by many Nigerians.
The labour leader also stressed that the right to protest remains a fundamental right of citizens, particularly in the face of economic hardships exacerbated by policies such as the recent hikes in fuel price, electricity costs, and public utilities charges.
He urged a compassionate response from authorities amidst escalating public frustration, even as he cautioned against hostile reactions to protesters. He said empathy and dialogue are essential to addressing the widespread discontent.
Yobe won’t join protest, says Governor Buni
Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has declared that the people of the state will not participate in any protests in any name but will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The governor made the declaration during the launch of the mega agricultural empowerment programme in Damaturu.
According to him, Yobe State is blessed with abundant arable lands, and rivers, offering the people the opportunity to be gainfully employed.
