ABIA STATE GOVT REVEALS PALLIATIVE SHARING FORMULA

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Abia State Government says it has received a letter of allocation of food items from the to Federal Government to cushion the effects of food scarcity occasioned by the removal of petrol subsidy.

The food items allocated to the state included “663 metric tons of Maize representing 13,260 bags of 50Kg and 79.9 metric tons of Garri representing 3,196 bags of 25 kg to be shared equally among the Local government areas of the state.

The food stuffs were donated through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting at the Government House on distribution of the palliative, Governor Alex Otti said high level of transparency must be exhibited in managing all aids received from the Federal Government, international or local agencies to ensure fair and equitable distribution.

Governor Otti, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, said the essence of the meeting was to ensure proper coordination and transparency in the distribution of the food items.

According to the Governor, the commodities are to yet arrive in the state but the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture has provided a warehouse for the storage upon arrival.

Explaining the sharing formula, Pastor Ajagba said the Governor had directed that 20% of the grains would be allocated to faith-based organizations, including the Muslim sect represented by JMI and the Christian sect represented by CAN while 3% of the food items should be distributed to boarding schools across the Local Government Areas.

The interactive meeting featured contributions from various stakeholders, including 17 Council Chairmen in the state, civil society groups, women and youth associations, Persons with Disabilities, representatives of faith based organizations, the organised labour, and security agencies.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU