The Kwara State Government has initiated a fresh round of food palliative distribution to both rural and urban residents within the state.
According to a government house statement released on Tuesday by Rafiu Ajakaye, the distribution of rice is being carried out through various channels, including religious leaders, non-governmental organizations, and community-based groups.
The statement highlights that these food palliatives serve as an additional layer of government assistance aimed at mitigating the impacts of fuel subsidy removal and the rising cost of living.
During the distribution at the Banquet Hall, Opposite Government House Ilorin, on Monday, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Development, emphasized the government’s outreach to the less privileged through Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and religious leaders due to their proximity to the people.
“We believe these CBOs and clerics are closer to the people. They know where the shoes pinch in the communities. They know those who are actually in dire need. For the NGOs, they have been working with the needy all these while, and we want to make use of the existing structure to reach out to the downtrodden at this crucial time,” Olohungbebe said.
“For the CBOs and CSOs alone (apart from what is being shared through religious bodies), we have 20,000 bags of 10kg rice for the urban poor, especially in the state capital in this phase. So, more bags will be going to the densely populated local government areas through the CBOs. We have also picked some CSOs and NGOs that we know that are working with the poor. Every NGO has its thematic area, and we picked those working with the poor.
“We have considered the population of the community-based organisations that we have. Most of them are registered with the government. So, they are recognised and certified. We have picked some of them from this first phase of palliative distribution.”
Olohungbebe further highlighted that the state government employs various distribution channels for palliatives beyond providing 20,000 bags of 10kg rice through CBOs and NGOs in specific areas.
It’s worth noting that last year, the state government distributed 250,000 bags of 10kg rice statewide as part of palliative measures to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The ongoing distribution is concentrated in the state capital, with future phases set to extend to other regions as part of the government’s broader initiatives.
Representatives of community-based organizations, expressing their views to the press during the rice reception, commended AbdulRazaq for his attentiveness to the people’s challenges, believing that the palliative efforts would ease the burden on the citizens and alleviate pressure on the state government.
AbdulRazaq Jimba of Magaji Ngeri Joint Youths Association in Ilorin West Local Government Area said: “We are here to receive 100 bags of palliative from the Kwara State Government on behalf of our community. Like the previous one, we believe this will bring relief to our people in the community.”
Babatunde Mashood of the Edun Development Association in Ilorin South also said: “We were called to receive 100 bags of 10kg rice on behalf of our community. This will go a long way in reducing hardship in our area, especially among the poor. The state government is doing its own to reduce the hardship in our community and the state as a whole.”
