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Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa residents decry alleged diversion of FG’s rice palliative
Some residents of Bauchi, Gombe and Dutse have expressed concern over the alleged diversion of the Federal Government’s 20-truck rice palliative.
They also decried the hoarding and hijacking of FG’s palliatives by government and ruling party officials in the states.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the federal government has allocated 20 trucks of rice and other packages to the 36 state governments as part of palliative measures to cushion the rising cost of living in the country.
The FG’s palliative include food items, inputs and cash grants to the vulnerable as well as the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, to check hikes in transport fares and ease the movement of goods and services.
A cross-section of Nigerians who spoke in separate interviews with NAN in Bauchi, Gombe and Dutse, alleged diversion of the FG’s palliative by the respective state governments.
In Dutse, the Jigawa capital, the residents accused political leaders of the diversion of palliative meant for vulnerable and poor families.
Alhaji Muhammadu Hamza accused the state officials saddled with the responsibilities of distributing the palliative only to their supporters.
“We did not receive any item after symbolic distribution of the palliative by the government officials,” he said.
Malam Musa Ali and Hajiya Maimuna, also accused government officials of serious neglect in the management of the palliative, to cushion the hardship being experienced by the people.
“Our governor is a God-fearing man, we knew that the problem is from fraudulent officials seeking to enrich themselves at the detriment of the vulnerable and poor families,” Hamza said.
Shuaibu Kafingana, the Chairman of Jigawa State Social Protection Platform (JISOP), lauded President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Umar Namadi for providing food assistance to 28,000 persons in the state.
He also expressed dismay over the shortchanging of the vulnerable in the palliative distribution exercise.
He advocated for an open process to ensure transparency and equity in the palliative distribution exercise in the state.
In Bauchi State, the delays in the distribution of FG’s rice have sent tongues wagging among desperate residents expecting the food palliative to assuage their sufferings.
Malam Sani Muazu, a resident of Bauchi, said they had not received the rice allocated to the state by the federal government.
He said the delays in the distribution of palliative worsen the food crisis facing the vulnerable and poor households in the state.
Mu’azu urged the state government to begin distribution of the FG’s rice in earnest, to cushion the effect of the rising cost of living.
Commenting, a senior official of the Bauchi State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the state was yet to receive its allocation of the FG’s rice.
According to the official, apart from the FG’s intervention, the state government has been distributing palliatives received from agencies and other donors.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to utilise the Eid-el-Maulud celebration for introspection and prayers for the nation.
The Director-General of NOA, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, also acknowledged the efforts of the current administration in addressing economic challenges and delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Deputy Director of Press, Mr Paul Odenyi, Issa-Onilu noted that the administration is working tirelessly to develop the country.
He urged Nigerians to emulate the virtues of selflessness, tolerance, peace, love, and fairness exemplified by Prophet Muhammad.
Specifically, Issa-Onilu called on Nigerians to offer prayers for wisdom and guidance for President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria to its rightful place among developed nations.
“I urge the Muslim community to offer supplications to God for wisdom and guidance for President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria to its rightful place among developed nations,” he said.
Issa-Onilu also advised Nigerians to refrain from engaging in any form of lawlessness during the public holiday.
He assured Nigerians that the government had put measures in place to ensure the protection of lives and property during the holiday and beyond.
Alake restates Tinubu’s commitment to improving senior citizens’ welfare
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has restated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of senior citizens in the country.
Alake said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikoro-Ekiti, his country home.
According to the minister, Tinubu is determined to accord dignity to senior citizens by giving them a new lease of life in line with his Renewed Hope Mantra.
Alake said that senior citizens had been adequately factored in all the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
NAN reports that Alake had on Saturday, distributed 1,200 bags of rice to the elderly in Ekiti, irrespective of the political party they belonged to.
He thanked the president for listening to the people and demonstrating a caring heart, noting “1,200 bags of rice was made available to me and each minister to further supplement the established channels of distribution.
“We need to reach out to our aged fathers and mothers at times like this to demonstrate the Omoluabi values of taking care of the old in the community.
“In the spirit of inclusion, it is important that we channel this intervention to mainly elderly citizens.
“This is because they do not have the strength to compete for welfare goods such as these at the established centres. We have taken their inventory and we are delivering it to them.
“Subsequent interventions will target other segments of the populace, such as widows, orphans, persons living with disabilities and students in higher institutions of learning,” he said.
The minister said that the onus was on the people to care for the elderly by focusing on issues affecting them, adding that every individual would grow old and require the support of the younger generation at some point in life.
The First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has rejoiced with the Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, to commemorate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
Oluremi in a message to mark the occasion on Monday in Abuja, urged the Muslims to use the opportunity to reflect on the teachings of love, kindness, and tolerance of Prophet Muhammad.
In her words, “This will help us to build a stronger community and a more harmonious society.
“I felicitate with the Muslim Ummah across our great nation as we celebrate this year’s Maulud Nabiyy, the blessed birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
“This occasion reminds us of the values of peace, compassion, and unity that the Prophet exemplified throughout his life.
“May the blessings of this day bring joy and peace to our homes and our country,” she said.
NOA urges Nigerians to use Eid-el-Maulud for sober reflection
Alake restates Tinubu’s commitment to improving senior citizens’ welfare
Edo begins supplementary immunisation campaign in October
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