Palliatives: FCTA warns against diversion of items

By Stanley Onyekwere

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned all staff and other stakeholders involved in the ongoing palliatives distribution process to shun every temptation to divert the items.
FCTA stated that as the palliative distribution continues, the need to prioritise the concerns of the vulnerable persons in the society, who were worst hit by the fuel subsidy removal.
FCTA’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Lawan Geidam, who represented the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike at the Abuja Municipal Area Council( AMAC) distribution Centre in Apo, said the administration would remain committed to initiatives that strengthens citizens’ confidence on government’s policies.
He said, “ the commitment to sustaining the palliative distribution demonstrates the administration’s dedication to providing ongoing 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”
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of AMAC, Christopher Maikalangu urged the administration to allocate more palliative materials to his Area Council, noting that it is the largest out of the six Councils in FCT.
He warned that all the materials received have been distributed in all the wards, ensuring that it gets to those who deserve it.
Similarly, at the Bwari Area Council, distribution centre, the Mandate Secretary, Social Development Secretariat (SDS) Ibrahim Aminu, who monitored the exercise, said the administration will not take lightly any act of sabotage from anyone involved in the distribution processes.
According to him: “Under this phase of distribution, we have brought the items closer to the people to ensure direct outreach, therefore an individual or stakeholder is not allowed to divert the palliatives meant for the poor people, let them get it”.
On his part, the chairman, Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya urged residents who are economically viable to allow the less privileged people to get the items.
Gabaya noted that, “ this palliatives are only for those that are poor or don’t have means of survival, so government officials and appointees should not partake in the sharing, poverty will come upon anyone that hijack the items”.