Rivers inaugurates palliatives committee, distributes 16,800 bags of rice

Rivers State government on Monday inaugurated a 40-man committee with the mandate to ensure even the distribution of palliatives to ease the harsh effect of the fuel subsidy removal policy. The committee chaired by the former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Desmond Akawor, has so far received 16,800 of 50kg bags of rice to be […]

Rivers State government on Monday inaugurated a 40-man committee with the mandate to ensure even the distribution of palliatives to ease the harsh effect of the fuel subsidy removal policy.

The committee chaired by the former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Desmond Akawor, has so far received 16,800 of 50kg bags of rice to be distributed to the most vulnerable people in the 23 local government areas of the state.

Akawor who is also the Rivers State chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) disclosed that the rice would be distributed with each of the 319 wards in the state taking delivery of 50 bags of rice each.

He added that some undisclosed bags of maize were still being expected to ameliorate the hardship being experienced by some indigent citizens.

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 Akawor said, “We have all agreed that if we use the structure as a ward, it means each ward will get like 50 bags for this one that has come from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

“Whatever is left which is approximately 850 will have to go to the physically challenged. As more things come, we will use the same platform. We will set up a monitoring team to ensure that these things are being monitored.”

He said though he is the state chairman of the PDP, the distribution process would not be politicised.

The committee is composed of representatives of various political parties, religious leaders, labour leaders, traditional rulers and the media.