ABIA STATE GOVT TO COMMENCE DISTRIBUTION OF PALLIATIVE

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Over 12,000 bags of 25kg of rice are to be distributed to junior workers in the Abia civil service.

The distribution, which is the first phase is for those in grade level 1 to 7, is part of efforts to cushion the effect of hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

The second phase expected to be 36,000 bags of 25kg of rice will be distributed to civil servants from grade level 8-10 but they are yet to be delivered by the federal government.

The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu announced this to journalists at the government House Umuahia while briefing them on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting.

Prince Kanu explained that only 24,000 bags of the 60,000 bags of 25kg rice expected from the federal government were available.

Responding to questions from journalists, the Special Adviser to the Governor on intervention, the Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, explained that the state government was yet to receive the palliatives from Dangote Group as promised.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the earlier announced federal government palliative of about 13,260 bags of maize and 3,169 bags of garri were yet to arrive the state.

The Information Commissioner, Prince Kanu, pointed out that the state government had dessilted about 40 kilometers of drains in Aba to mitigate the perennial flooding being experienced in the commercial nerve center of the state.

He called on Aba residents to ensure they disposed their refuse in designated places to complement government’s efforts.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU