By Ugochukwu Alaribe, UMUAHIA

Abia State government has said it has distributed the four tranches of the palliatives it received from the federal government to persons with disabilities, destitute homes,correctional centres, widows and civil servants across the 17 council areas of the state.

The state government further stated that in recognition of the importance of agriculture in the state’s economy, the state designed the distribution plan to support farmers in both rural and semi-rural areas.

The government also assured that it is committed to ensuring that all palliatives from both the federal government and state gets to the target audience.

The palliatives

Briefing journalists in Umuahia, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Intervention, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, assured that the government was transparent in the distributions of the  palliatives across the State.

He explained that the state government received a total of 16,800 bags of 50kg rice and 13,260 bags of 50kg maize.

He, however, disclosed that the state government converted the maize to rice through selling the maize to buy rice, as well as adding more 4,800 bags of 50 kg rice.

 He said the total was 30,800 bags of 50kg rice which was distributed across the state in the first batch.

Anokwuru further disclosed that the state equally took delivery of 24,000 bags of 25 kg rice in the second batch. It allocated 19,524 bags to civil servants from Salary Grade Levels 01 to 08, while 4,476 bags were distributed to persons with disability, Abia Correctional Center, Amaudo Itumbauzo Center for mentally ill destitutes, orphanages, widows, through the State Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with the office of the wife of the Governor.

He said: “The state government in the third batch received 13,260 bags of 50kg maize and 3,196 bags of 25kg garri which it distributed 601 bags of maize and 144 bags of garri to to each of the 17 council areas.

“156 bags of maize and 38 bags of garri were distributed to faith-based organizations while boarding schools got 23 bags of maize and 6 bags of garri.”

Distribution schedule

The Special Adviser also announced the distribution of federal government fertilizer palliatives to farmers in rural and semi urban areas in the state.

“In the fourth batch which came in June 2024, the state received 8,900 bags of Urea and NPK Fertilizers.

“We have mapped out days to distribute same across the 15 LGAs, excluding Aba North and Aba South LGAs as well as few wards in Obingwa and Osisioma LGAs which are urban areas with minimal farming activities.

“Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Isialangwa South council areas will take their turn on Tuesday 24th September, while that of Ohafia, Bende and Isialangwa North council areas would be on Wednesday 25th September 2024.

“Thursday 26th September would be the turn of Ugwunagbo, Osisioma and Ukwa East,Isuikwuato.

“Umunneochi and Ukwa West would get theirs on Friday 27th September, while Saturday 28th September will be the turn of Arochukwu, Obingwa and Ikwuano council areas.”

Vanguard News