A total of 10,764 people out of the over 1m residents of Bauchi LGA of Bauchi have been given a 25kg bag of rice each as palliation by the State Government.
The beneficiaries were drawn from five wards in the LGA and they are mostly members, supporters, or well-wishers of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State.
While speaking at the distribution exercise held at the premises of Bauchi LGA Secretariat, the Commissioner of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Yakubu Wanka explained that it was a collaborative effort between Bauchi State and the Federal Government.
She further explained that it was meant to alleviate the hardship people are going through following the total removal of fuel subsidy as well as the economic downturn being experienced by the people.
The Commissioner disclosed that Bauchi was the 8th LGA to be visited by the Palliative Committee headed by the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu.
She added, “The State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir directed that the food items should be distributed first to enable the beneficiaries in the 20 LGAs to have something to eat in a very difficult situation.”
Hajara Yakubu Wanka also said, “Very soon, conditional cash transfer will be made as beneficiaries have already been identified across the state. As soon as we finish all administrative processes, the amount will be transferred to each of the beneficiaries.”
The Commissioner then stressed that “Each beneficiary is to go home with one bag of 25kg of rice. It is for one person, not to be shared with anyone, you are not representing anybody else, you are here for yourself, take your bag of rice and go home with it.”
Also speaking, the Caretaker Chairperson of Bauchi LGA, Zainab BabaTakko said that the beneficiaries were carefully screened and selected stressing that they are poorest among the poor households in the area.
She then urged them to ensure that they did not sell off the bags of rice but used it to provide food for their families for the main time.
Also speaking, PDP Chairman in Bauchi LGA, Alin Bababa commended the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir for ensuring that the palliative items were procured and effectively distributed to residents of the State.
In a vote of thanks, the District Head of Bauchi metropolis, Nura Adamu Jumba told the beneficiaries that though the bags of rice cannot remove poverty from them, it will serve as a temporary relief at the hard times.
The traditional ruler advised them to cook the rice and eat with their families in order to mitigate the hardship being experienced.
The beneficiaries were seen with the bags of rice being escorted by security agencies out of the premises.
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