The governor of Kwara state, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, has announced that his state has got a N2 billion grant from the federal government.
He said the money is a part payment of the N4 billion grant promised to state governments to cushion the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies.
Mr AbdulRasaq disclosed this via his X account formally known as Twitter on Friday.
He said the federal government grant would be used for the purchase of rice which would be distributed to vulnerable citizens in his state.
“We have received N2bn out of the N4bn relief funds that the Federal Government released to states for the purchase of rice to be distributed en masse to vulnerable members of the public to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The Federal Government on Thursday approved N5 billion for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enable them to procure food items for distribution to the poor in their respective states.
He stated that his government is awaiting the balance of N2 billion from the N1 billion in maize (40,000 bags) that the Central Bank of Nigeria is selling to each state from the national strategic reserve.
As a result, he said that 48% of funds provided to states are a non-interest loan that will be repaid over a 20-month period at N120,000,000.00 each month.
Mr AbdulRasaq stated that he has ordered the immediate procurement of rice in the amount specified.
To ensure transparency, he noted that the distribution of the palliatives will be controlled solely by a commission chaired by Kwara State Police Commissioner Ebun Adelesi.
He noted that the process will be supported by the Emir of Shonga Haliru Yahya, religious leaders, civil society leaders, and other important stakeholders in the state.
His words
“Consequently, I have ordered the immediate purchase of rice in the value of the amount. For transparency and fairness to all, the distribution of the palliatives will be overseen exclusively by a committee headed by the Kwara State Police Commissioner Ebun Oluwarotimi Adelesi, who will be supported by the Emir of Shonga Dr. Haliru Yahya, religious leaders, civil society leaders, and other important stakeholders in the state.
“We also confirm receipt of the remaining three trucks of the bags of rice donated to our state by the Federal Government. The distribution has commenced through various channels of reaching out to the public, including lawmakers who represent the 24 state constituencies and other stakeholders in the state.
Mr AbdulRasaq urged citizens who are saddled with the responsibilities of distributing the palliatives to do so in the spirit of fairness to all.
The governor also appealed to members of the public to remain patient and calm, emphasizing that there are other measures taken to assuage the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.
His words:
“I urge those we have saddled with the responsibility of distributing these palliatives to do so in the spirit of fairness to all, particularly to the most vulnerable persons, because it is simply impractical for everyone to get at the same time.
“Similarly, I appeal to members of the public to remain patient and calm as multi-layered steps are being taken in phases, including huge interventions to support massive food production, local production of gas-powered vehicles, support for small and medium scale enterprises, manufacturing and other businesses, to boost the economy and ease the difficulties arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.