The Rivers state government has inaugurated a 40-member committee to ensure the even distribution of palliatives to ease the impact of the subsidy removal.
The committee, chaired by former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Desmond Akawor, has received 16,800 50kg bags of rice to be distributed to the most vulnerable people in the state’s 23 local government areas.
The rice provided by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum will be distributed according to ward structure, with each of the 319 wards in the state receiving fifty bags each.
“This may be the first phase and we are going to use the same template for other items that are coming. We should be able to send these things to those who are really in need. We are receiving 16,800kg bags of rice from the Governors’ Forum. We have all agreed that if we use the structure as a ward, it means that each ward will get like 50bags for this one that has come from the Governors’ Forum. Desmond said
Akawor stated that the distribution process would not be politicized and that the palliatives were intended for all Rivers people, regardless of political affiliation.
“This has nothing to do with politics. It is not for any particular political party. What has been brought is for Rivers people. After this rice, we are going to receive some bags of maize. The number of bags has not been specified”, he said.
The committee comprises representatives from various political parties, religious leaders, labor leaders, traditional rulers, and the media.
