Gov Alia flags off distribution of palliatives in Benue

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has flagged off the distribution of palliatives to residents of the state to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy.

Gov Alia, while performing the exercise at the premises of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, on Tuesday in Makurdi, said the items consisted of 35 trucks of rice and 21 trucks of maize.

He said all Benue residents would benefit from the palliatives and assured there would be no discrimination in the distribution of the grains, irrespective of political, tribal, or religious affiliations.

He said: “The statewide palliative will reach the 276 council wards of the state and will be extended to civil servants, people living with disabilities, people of all religions, politicians irrespective of party affiliation, support groups, farmers, traditional rulers, okada riders, Keke operators, stakeholders, and women, among others.”

Gov Alia, who commended President Tinubu’s administration for the intervention, said his government has carried out the first phase of the distribution through the distribution of assorted fertilisers to farmers.

According to him: “The second phase of the interventions was the commissioning and handover of 100 buses to Benue Links, which are already reaching all the local government areas and the 36 states of the federation.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Transport and Energy and chairman of the Palliatives Distribution Committee, Omale Omale, assured that the items would be judiciously distributed.

Also, the acting Executive Secretary of Benue SEMA, James Iorpuu, commended the governor for his special interest in the welfare of internally displaced persons and persons of concern in the state, assuring that the agency was on the same page with Gov Alia on due diligence in the distribution of palliatives.

Gov Alia flags off distribution of palliatives in Benue