By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of on-going distribution of the first quarterly food palliatives to the people of the state.
Ododo who was responding to reports from officials in charge of the distribution of the palliatives on Wednesday in Lokoja, expressed satisfaction with the transparency so far displayed in handling of the exercise by state officials.
The Governor also applauded the people of the state for their patience and orderliness in the distribution exercise saying that they had so far conducted themselves well as followed laid down procedure for the distribution.
He said that in spite of the challenging situation and the pressing desire to be served first, the people had not resorted to self help to make the exercise rowdy but had maintained peace.
“I am proud of the conduct of the state officials handling the distribution of palliatives as there has been no report of any hitch or disruption as many trucks have been loading the grains to various local government areas in the state.
“I want urge the local government caretaker chairmen and their committees to emulate the conduct of the state officials as the materials are being moved to the ward level.
“I want also commend our people for their patience and orderly conduct so far and I want to encourage them to sustain this attitude throughout the distribution exercise and in subsequent interventions to be made by our government”, the Governor said.
It would be recalled that the Governor had said at the flag-off of the exercise in Lokoja on Tuesday that the intervention was the first of many to take place under his leadership.
This, according to him, is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ease the impact of the prevailing economic hardship on Nigerian families.
The Governor cautioned that the distribution of the palliatives must be done in accordance with laid down procedure across the 239 wards in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, without any form of political interference.
The Governor urged the people to guard against hoarding and diversion of the items as he called on them to be vigilant and report any breach of the procedure in the distribution of the palliatives to the state Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for immediate intervention.
Ododo commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support for the government and People of Kogi State.
He assured the People of the state that the Intervention would be sustained and delivered to the people on a quarterly basis in line with his campaign promises to the people.
The governor reiterated his earlier stance that the food palliative was meant for indigent population in the state, adding that the initiative was a proof of his commitment to the well-being of the people of the state.
He reiterated that the modality for distribution must be followed to the latter by ensuring that all those in need of of the intervention are given without any form of discrimination.
So far, over 20 consignments of the grains have left the state capital to 10 local government areas as the distribution exercise is expected to continue across the state in the next few days with strict adherence to guidelines for a hitch-free exercise.