Ondo State Government on Thursday confirmed the receipt of N2 billion from the N5 billion provided by the Federal Government to be disbursed for the petrol subsidy removal palliative.
Mr Wale Akinterinwa, Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, disclosed this when he led a team to inspect the food items and agricultural inputs to be distributed.
Akinterinwa, also the Chairman, Palliative Strategy and Implementation Committee, said that the state had received 5700 bags of rice from the Federal Government, but would be distributing about 12000 bags.
The finance commissioner said a special committee was made up of people of note in the society to avoid the distribution becoming a political party affair.
“We are here to inspect foodstuff that we intend to give to the vulnerable masses. We have gone round warehouses to ensure the foodstuff are in good condition. We will share them very soon.
“The Federal Government gave us 5700 bags of rice. The state has bought more than that. We will start sharing very soon. We put together a committee at the local government level.
“We have good representation that cuts across the spectrum of the society. We have gotten N2 billion and we hope that they will give us the balance.
”They sent maize to us but we received little amount of maize and we hope to get the balance.
“The distribution will not be a party affair. That is why we put up the committee. We have the CAN and Muslim representative.
“We will be distributing about 12000 bags of rice. We are also giving out packaged food items besides the rice. The packaged food consist of four different local food items,” he said.
Akinterinwa said security had been provided around the warehouses housing items to be distributed as palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
He said the warehouses were not looted and the items would soon be distributed to vulnerable members of the society.
According to him, inputs for farmers are ready as power tillers, pesticides, tricycles to help move farm harvests to cities are also available.
“We hope it will tackle food crisis and bring down prices if the yields are good. We have supported the farmers to get certain things they need,” he said. (NAN). READ ALSO:
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