Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Agency Report
Published on 2024-02-21 09:05:10
The Kogi State Government distributed 50 truckloads of rice to indigent citizens as a palliative to cushion economic hardships in the state. Governor Ahmed Ododo warned officials against diversion and hoarding of the palliative. According to him, the intervention was strictly meant for the indigents at the lower level of the socioeconomic spectrum of the society. The rice is expected to be distributed to households across the 239 wards in the 21 local government areas of the state.
In his address during the distribution at the Muhammadu Buhari Square in Lokoja, Governor Ahmed Ododo stated that the mechanism had been put in place to track, identify and deal decisively with those who may want to hoard or divert the items from those who needed them most. He stressed that the focus was on sustainable and long-lasting tenure to ensure food security and banish economic hardships in the state. The governor expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support in facilitating the palliative distribution to the indigent citizens of the state. He also appreciated the people for their understanding, patience, and resilience during this challenging period of economic hardships. Furthermore, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to guaranteeing food security in the state through a long-term agricultural development plan for massive food production.
Governor Ododo assured that the distribution of the palliative would be a quarterly exercise across the 239 wards in the 21 local government areas of the state. He emphasized his desire to serve the citizens diligently with the fear of God to deliver the dividends of democracy to them irrespective of political affiliation, tribe, ethnicity, and religion. He cautioned that the palliatives are meant for the indigent who required them the most. He declared that any unpatriotic element found involved in the diversion of the aid would not be condoned.
In their goodwill messages, the Speaker of the Kogi House of Assembly, Umar Yusuf, and the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Gabriel Amari, commended the governor for the laudable initiative. They also praised the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises to the residents toward alleviating their suffering and ensuring adequate security in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Rabiat Okwute, thanked the governor for the gesture and urged the people to remain supportive to enjoy more dividends of democracy. The Attah Igala and President of the Kogi Traditional Council, Matthew Opaluwa, also appreciated the governor for keeping to his campaign promise to alleviate the plights of the people.
With the state government’s commitment to ensuring food security through palliatives and long-term growth projects, the agricultural sector in Kogi State is expected to develop significantly. The palliative distribution is also a clear demonstration of the government’s dedication to alleviating the economic hardships faced by the indigent citizens of the state.
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