On Friday, the governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, distributed 60,000 25kg bags of rice to the most needy residents.
The distribution of the rice is one of the palliative items planned by the state administration to lessen the pain brought on primarily by the loss of fuel subsidies.
Fintiri declared that the food item, which was originally intended for sale at a 50% subsidised rate, would now be completely free, leaving the state and local governments to cover the cost. The distribution of the food item was flagged off during a ceremony in Yola, the state capital.
Without regard to party allegiance, the governor remarked, “We are starting with the distribution of 60,000 bags of rice free of charge to vulnerable households.”
In the distribution formula, he continued, the elite and members of the state palliative committee ought to be excluded.
He noted that his administration had already started paying out N10,000 per month in special allowances to civil officials and pensioners, had given out approximately 100 trucks worth of premium fertilisers to workers and farmers, and had purchased ten plush buses to help with transportation issues.
The governor pleaded with the populace to have patience with both the state and federal governments over the high price of food supplies. According to the governor, the cost of food products has increased not only in Nigeria but also throughout the world as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and climate change.
“The current economic hardships, especially the high cost of food items, are not only related to the removal of fuel subsidies or unique to Nigeria; some of the factors include the Russia-Ukraine war as well as climatic change,” he stated.
