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Tinubu Palliative: Anxiety As 740 Trucks Of Rice Fail to Arrive Most States

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Only a few states appear to have received the 20 trucks of rice palliative earmarked for each of the 36 states by the Federal Government and the issue is causing anxiety, Sunday Vanguard understands.
 
A survey at the weekend shows no northern state apart from Kano had received the consignment of rice while in the South-West, only Oyo claimed that the trucks had arrived.
 
In the South-South, Akwa–Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa States’ officials confirmed receiving the latest palliative while others said they had not arrived.
 
Delta State government said the rice had not been received as of Friday noon while Edo and Cross River States’ officials did not respond to inquiries.
 
The Federal Government had, last Monday, said it had allocated 740 trucks of rice to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
 
Each state including the FCT, under the arrangement, is expected to get 20 trucks containing 1,200 bags of 25kg each and the rice is to be distributed to the most vulnerable in the society.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
 
The Minister, who was flanked by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said that the President directed the Minister of Agriculture to ensure that food is made available to Nigerians.
 
He explained that the distribution of trucks of rice was also to ensure that the hardship in the country is ameliorated, adding that it’s expected that the state governors will distribute the trucks of rice to the most vulnerable.
 
Delta: No rice yet – Ahon, CPS
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Delta State, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed to Sunday Vanguard that the state had not received its share of the palliative.
 
We received rice –Bayelsa Commissioner
Koku-Obiyai, Bayelsa State Information Commissioner, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, who confirmed receipt of the rice in Yenagoa, the state capital, said, ”Yes, the state has received the palliative.
 
“I just confirmed from the Chairman of SEMA that the state has received 20 truckloads of 25 kg bags of rice.
 
“The governor will be informed. In Bayelsa State, we do not distribute palliative along party lines. Everybody is suffering, when I was in the House of Assembly, Governor Diri insisted that everybody should benefit from such distributions.”
 
Chair of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Hon Walama Igrubia, also confirmed the delivery of the palliative when contacted.
 
A-Ibom received 24,000 bags’
In Akwa Ibom State, the Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, acknowledged receipt of 24,000 bags of 25 kg rice from the Federal Government to cushion the hardship of the current food crisis in the country.
 
He explained that the state government added another 24,000 bags of 25 kg from the Federal Government to increase the quantity to 48,000 bags to ensure that more families benefit from the intervention.
 
His words: “Through this food intervention, the government will share 20 bags of rice each to 2,272 villages in the state.
 
“This is in addition to the over 100,000 families drawn from the social register, who have already received and others who will be receiving free food items from the state government through the Bulk Purchase Agency.
 
“This food intervention by the government is aimed at cushioning the effect of the hardship currently faced by our citizens, and reducing extreme hunger and poverty as stipulated by Sustainable Development Goal 1.
 
“However, the long-term and sustainable solution remains the back-to-farm initiative of the state government to boost local food production, which is why the governor declared the first and third Fridays of the month as work-free farming days by the governor.
 
“Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture has undertaken several strategic interventions, including distributing cassava cuttings, maize grains, pepper seedlings, and coconut seedlings to 135 public primary, and secondary schools, and shared 150,000 cocoa seedlings with cocoa farmers.
 
“It had also distributed 40,000 oil palm seedlings to oil palm farmers, 80,000 pepper seedlings to vegetable farmers, four piglets, three weaners (goats) to 1,200 livestock farmers, 50-day old chicks with six bags of feed distributed to 700 poultry farmers, and bags of feeds distributed to 200 aquaculture farmers
 
“These are in addition to the provision of livelihood grants of N150,000 to 1,560 beneficiaries, agricultural inputs (day-old chicks, juveniles, feed, etc), and services to 900 farmers undertaken under the AKCARES Scheme.
 
“Distribution of the federal and state governments’ food intervention will be done at the local government council headquarters where respective council chairmen will ensure that 20 bags each are safely transported to all the gazetted villages. Dates for the distribution will be announced soon.”
 
Fubara sets up LOC for distribution in Rivers
In Rivers State, the latest palliative from the Federal Government arrived Lagos on Wednesday.
 
Governor Siminalayi Fubara revealed that a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) headed by the Caretaker Chairmen of every local government has been set up to distribute the food items to the most vulnerable people in every nook and cranny of the state.
 
The governor spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, during the joint flag-off of the Federal Government Grain Distribution with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Port-Harcourt.
 
The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joe Johnson, who confirmed that the state received the palliative to Sunday Vanguard on Wednesday, said, “As a government, we are doing our best to cushion the effect of the hard times on our people.
 
“Last Easter, for instance, we distributed rice to the most vulnerable people. There are other measures put in place by the government to mitigate the hardship.”
 
Johnson assured that nobody would compromise the distribution process, and political interest would not determine it.
 
Katsina: No rice truck yet
In Katsina State, as of noon Friday, the Federal Government’s truck of rice purportedly dispatched to the state was yet to arrive.
 
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Katsina SEMA, Bello Mamman, said he had no idea whether the rice truck was on its way and when it will arrive.
 
Efforts to reach the DG, SEMA, Hajiya Binta Dagani, for further clarification were not successful.
Mamman advised that we check back on Monday as the DG SEMA was out of the state on official assignment.
 
Plateau: Consignment yet to arrive
Our correspondent in Plateau State quoted officials as saying they were yet to receive the 20 trucks of rice which the Federal Government promised.
 
The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, confirmed in a telephone interview that the consignment was yet to arrive.
 
We have not received any truck yet – Borno SEMA
The North East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Sirajo Garba Maidugu, in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, said his office was yet to receive any correspondence regarding how and when the 20 trucks will be delivered to the states, especially Borno and Yobe.
 
“Sincerely, our office has not received any correspondence in that regard”, he said.
 
“We don’t know whether the disbursement will be carried out directly to the state governments or through NEMA but the moment I get information, I will furnish you accordingly. But for now we are yet to be in the picture.”
 
On his part, the Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), who is also the Secretary of the Palliative Committee, Mohammed Barkindo, said the state government was yet to receive any truck.
 
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Mohammed Goje’s phone was switched off when Sunday Vanguard tried to reach him to confirm whether they had received the rice consignment.
 
Kaduna: Officials mum
As of Thursday afternoon, it was not clear whether Kaduna State had received the 20 trucks of rice.
Calls to officials in the state, including the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, to ask if they had received the rice were not answered.
 
Oyo begins distribution
In Oyo State, the rice consignment had apparently arrived as officials had begun distribution.
The flag-off ceremony featured a symbolic presentation of the rice to Local Government Executive Chairmen for onward distribution across the 33 local council areas of the state.
 
Governor Makinde, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, said the distribution exercise was structured to reach communities in both urban and rural areas of the state, ensuring equitable access and coverage across Oyo.
 
Ondo: No rice yet
In Ondo State, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the state government was yet to receive the 20 trucks of rice.
 
Adeniyan said that once the trucks arrived, distribution would commence.
 
Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolawole Alimi, said the state was yet to receive the rice palliative.
 
He wondered if the rice palliative could take care of the excruciating hunger in the land, calling on the Federal Government to resolve the inflationary issues troubling the masses and their purchasing power.
 
Ogun waits
Ogun State government said it had not received its share of the rice.
 
In a telephone chat, Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said the state government was awaiting its consignment.
 
Akinmade added that when the state gets the consignment, it will put in place a committee that will include necessary stakeholders to oversee its distribution.
 
He assured that the state government will ensure that the commodity gets to the targeted beneficiaries.
 
Ekiti waits too
Speaking with Sunday Vanguard on Friday morning, Ekiti State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Taiwo Olatunbosun, said, “I am yet to get an appropriate briefing from the coordinating body on when the vehicle will be in.
 
“It is when we have that information that we would be able to make appropriate comment.
“I am not sure we already have delivery of the grains but I’m aware that it was announced after the Federal Executive Council meeting that states would be given certain quantities and truckloads of rice, but as soon as we have details of the consignments, I will let you know”.
 
Kwara in waiting game
Kwara State government, at press time, was yet to receive its 20 trucks of lorry of bags of rice as expected from the Presidency.
 
Sunday Vanguard gathered from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security that no such consignment had arrived in the state.
 
“The state government hasn’t received its consignment because we haven’t seen any indication to that effect here”, said a source in the ministry who craved anonymity.
 
“There is no way such consignment would arrive that our ministry would not be duly informed”.
Meanwhile calls made to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye, were not answered and he didn’t respond to an SMS sent to him on the issue at press time.
 
Sokoto State officials, on their part, said they were yet to receive their share.
 
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Muhammadu Bello Wamakko, said: “We just heard it but we are yet to receive any circular to that effect from anybody”
 
Our man in Zamfara State also quoted an official as saying they were yet to receive the rice allocation.
 
The Director General (DG) Media and Communication to Zamfara State Governor, Malam Nuhu Salisu Anka, told Sunday Vanguard telephone, “We are yet to receive our allocation”.
Kebbi State government, also on its part, confirmed it was yet to receive the 20 trucks of rice approved by President Tinubu.
 
Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said that as soon as the state government receives the consignment, it will share it with the beneficiaries.
The situation is the same in Benue State where the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Sir James Iorpuu, said they were yet to receive their allocation of 20 trucks of rice.
 
Iorpuu, however, acknowledged that the agency had received some food palliative from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, as well as the Northern Governors’ Forum, NGF.
 
He said: “We have not received the 20 trucks of rice in my office but the Federal Government had sent a different palliative. Some came from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and some from the Northern Governors’ Forum, NGF.”
 
According to him, the state government had already flagged-off the distribution of the palliative from NEMA in Makurdi.
 
Our correspondent in Niger State also said the rice palliative was yet to arrive in the state as of yesterday morning.
 
The Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Agriculture, Aisha Babadoko, said the ministry was unaware of the palliative.
 
The Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, when contacted on the issue, also said he was not aware of the delivery of the trucks of rice but promised to find out from the Commissioner of Agriculture but had not as of the time of going to press.
 
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Breaking: Atiku emerges new Deputy Clerk to National Assembly

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Sokoto-born seasoned technocrat, Mr. Ibrahim Atiku has been appointed as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly (DCNA), with effect from February 2, 2025.

This was contained in a letter dated 19th December, 2024 and signed by the Executive Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Engr. Ahmed Kadi Ahmshi.

Ahmshi said the decision was taken during the just concluded 616th Meeting of the Commission, held on Thursday, 19th December, 2024; in recognition of his “hard work” and “administrative competence”.

“The National Assembly Service Commission, at its 616th Meeting held on Thursday, 19th December, 2024, approved your appointment as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly with effect from 2nd February, 2025.

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“This Appointment is in recognition of your hard work and administrative competence. It is therefore expected that you will continue to uphold the confidence reposed in you.

“While congratulating you on your appointment to this exalted position, please accept assurances of our highest esteem”, the letter reads.

Until his appointment, Mr. Atiku was the Director, Finance and Account, House of Representatives, in National Assembly.

He is an Alumnus of Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, and fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management. Atiku also obtained a Masters degrees in legislative studies as well as a Ph.D. in Legislative Studies.

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Atiku also attended various courses home and abroad, among them are, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Harvard University, USA, JF Kennedy School of Government USA, Duke University USA, West African Institute of Finance and Economic management, (WAIFEM), Harvard Business School USA, RIPA International UK. among others.

Recall that the NASC had last month, approved the appointment of Barr. Kamoru Ogunlana as Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA).

Both Ogunlana and Atiku are billed to resume their respective offices Feburary 2, 2025, when the current occupants of the offices shall be due for retirement.

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Jubilation as Gov Mutfwang approves 13th month salary

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The governor of plateau state, Caleb Mutfwang has in his passionate commitment to the welfare of public and civil servants in the State, approved that the 13th-month salary be paid to bring a more joyful Yuletide to civil servants in the state.

Governor Mutfwang in a statement by his Director of press and public Affairs, Gyang Bere also directed the swift payment of end-of-the-year bonuses for public and civil servants in the State.

It was gathered that this is the first time in Plateau’s history that the state government is paying workers a 13th-month salary.

This move is a testament to Governor Mutfwang’s desire to implement policies that enhance working conditions for government workers.

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The Governor wishes all workers Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance.

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Stampedes: You’ve Weaponized Poverty on Nigerians – HURIWA Tells Tinubu, State Govs

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The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed grave concern over the spate of deadly stampedes occurring across the country, attributing the tragedies to the government’s failure to address worsening economic conditions.

The advocacy group accused both federal and state governments of “weaponizing poverty,” creating an environment where desperate citizens now risk their lives scrambling for basic necessities that were affordable just months ago.

The group condemned the most recent stampede in Maitama, Abuja, where ten individuals, including four children, lost their lives during a food distribution exercise at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Similarly, the group decried the crowd crush at a school fair in Ibadan, which claimed the lives of at least 35 children, and the stampede in Okija, Anambra State, where multiple casualties were recorded during the distribution of palliatives.

HURIWA lamented that these stampedes are the result of severe hunger and deprivation fueled by skyrocketing inflation, poor economic policies, and the weaponization of poverty.

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“Nigerians are dying while rushing for staple foods that were affordable just a few weeks before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office.

The government’s inability to implement effective economic policies has pushed millions into desperation,” the group stated.

The Maitama incident, which occurred during a charitable outreach to the vulnerable and elderly, claimed ten lives and left eight others injured. In Ibadan, the deaths of 35 children at a school fair organized by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo FM Radio shocked the nation, while the stampede in Anambra State highlighted the peril of poorly organized relief efforts in a country where millions live in poverty.

According to HURIWA, the removal of fuel subsidies without adequate cushioning measures has exacerbated the cost of living crisis, forcing many Nigerians into extreme poverty.

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With over 133 million Nigerians classified as multi-dimensionally poor, according to recent reports, the group noted that hunger and deprivation have reached unprecedented levels.

“This government has turned poverty into a weapon, creating a situation where citizens are dying to secure basic sustenance. This is not governance; it is a tragedy,” HURIWA asserted.

The association emphasized that these recurring stampedes are symptomatic of a deeper crisis in Nigeria’s socio-economic fabric. It warned that the country is dangerously close to the brink of becoming a failed state. “When citizens die in droves just to access food, it is clear that the state is failing in its primary responsibility of safeguarding the lives and welfare of its people,” HURIWA said.

The advocacy group criticized President Tinubu’s administration for implementing poorly thought-out policies that have worsened the economic situation. It pointed out that the rising cost of staple foods, transportation, and other essential goods has left millions unable to meet basic needs.

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“Before this administration, staple foods like rice and garri were within reach for the average Nigerian. Today, these have become luxury items, accessible only to a few,” HURIWA noted.

The association also accused state governments of compounding the problem by failing to prioritize grassroots development and welfare. It cited instances where poorly organized charitable events and palliative distributions have led to fatal stampedes, as seen in Anambra and other states.

HURIWA called for an immediate review of economic policies at both federal and state levels, urging leaders to prioritize the welfare of citizens over political and personal gains. “Governments must stop paying lip service to poverty alleviation and take real steps to address the root causes of hunger and deprivation,” the group stated.

The association proposed several measures to prevent future tragedies and address the underlying causes of the current crisis. These include the immediate implementation of comprehensive social safety net programs to provide food, healthcare, and financial assistance to vulnerable populations. HURIWA also called for massive investments in agriculture to increase food production and reduce dependency on imports.

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Also, the group urged the federal government to introduce tax relief measures for low-income earners and small businesses to ease the economic burden. It also advocated for the creation of job opportunities through public works programs and partnerships with the private sector.

HURIWA stressed the need for better coordination of relief efforts to prevent overcrowding and ensure safety during palliative distributions. It called on event organizers to collaborate with local authorities and law enforcement agencies to manage large crowds and maintain order.

The advocacy group further emphasized the importance of accountability and citizen participation in governance. It urged Nigerians to demand transparency and hold their leaders accountable for policies that impoverish the masses.

HURIWA also called on President Tinubu’s administration to reverse policies that have exacerbated poverty and introduce people-centered reforms to rebuild public trust.
“This government must realize that the survival of its people is non-negotiable. Urgent steps must be taken to address the root causes of these tragedies and prevent Nigeria from sliding further into chaos,” the group stated.

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As the holiday season approaches, HURIWA appealed to wealthy individuals and organizations to step up their philanthropic efforts to assist the less privileged. However, it stressed the need for such activities to be well-coordinated to avoid further tragedies.
The group reiterated its warning that Nigeria is on the verge of a socio-economic collapse. It called on all levels of government to act decisively to reverse the trend and restore hope to the millions of Nigerians struggling to survive.

“The lives lost in Abuja, Ibadan, Anambra, and elsewhere are a grim reminder of the cost of inaction. The government must stop weaponizing poverty and take immediate steps to address the root causes of this crisis. Failure to act now will only push Nigeria further toward the precipice of a failed state,” HURIWA declared.

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