The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has warned against the diversion of palliatives meant for poor and vulnerable groups in the territory.
Wike gave the warning in Abuja on Tuesday during the ongoing distribution of food items to vulnerable residents at Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The FCT Administration (FCTA) on Monday commenced the distribution of 12,000 bags of rice and maize to vulnerable households across the six area councils of the FCT.
The minister, who was represented by Mr Lawan Geidam, Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA, reiterated the administration’s commitment to addressing the plight of the poor.
He explained that the poor and vulnerable persons in society are the worst hit by the petroleum subsidy removal, stressing the need to prioritise their concerns.
He, therefore, warned those responsible for the distribution exercise to shun every temptation to divert the food items meant to reduce the impacts of the subsidy removal.
“The commitment to sustain the palliative distribution demonstrates the President Bola Tinubu administration’s dedication to provide support to vulnerable residents in the FCT.
“The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and ensure that essential food items reach those most in need,” Wike said.
Earlier, the Chairman of AMAC, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, urged the administration to allocate more food items to AMAC considering its large population of the poor.
Maikalangu assured the minister that the food items would get to the targeted groups in all the political wards of the council.
In a similar exercise at Bwari Area Council, Wike warned that FCTA would not condone any act of sabotage.
Represented by Mr Ibrahim Aminu, Mandate Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, FCTA, the minister explained that the food items were being distributed at the council to bring the items closer to the people.
“Therefore, an individual or stakeholder is not allowed to divert the palliatives meant for the poor people. Let them get it,” he said.
The Chairman of the council, Mr John Gabaya, appealed to the economically viable residents to allow the less-privileged people to get the items.
Gabaya stressed that the food items were meant for the poor with little or no means of survival.
“As such, government officials and appointees should not partake in the sharing or poverty will come upon anyone that hijack the items,” he said.
At Gwagwalada Area Council, the minister urged residents to support President Bola Tinubu-led administration to deliver people-oriented programmes that would impact on their lives.
Wike, who was represented at the event by Mr Bitrus Garki, Area Council Service Secretariat, FCTA, said that he would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
On his part, the Council Chairman, Mr Abu Giri, commended Tinubu and Wike for reaching out to the poor and the vulnerable in communities.
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