Hardship: Governor Sule Distributes 4000 Bags of 7.5kg Rice, N20m In Awe, Azara

Rabiu Omaku

As part of the intervention by the Nasarawa State Government to alleviate the plight of the people currently experiencing hardship, Governor Abdullahi Sule has flagged off another round of palliative distribution, with 4000 bags of 7.5kg bags of rice and five thousand naira cash gift to each beneficiary, totaling twenty million Naira, to vulnerable persons selected across Awe Local Government Area, as well as Azara development area.

Governor Sule flagged off the exercise at Azara, the headquarters of the Azara development area on Friday.

Speaking in Awe, headquarters of Awe Local Government Area, the Governor said the gesture, which is entirely the effort of the state government, is meant to bring succor to vulnerable persons across the state.

He explained that both President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the state governors are aware of the prevailing hardship being experienced by the people and that the government at all levels is making every effort to address the situation.

“Indeed, we are aware of the challenges. President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is also very aware of the challenges that we are facing. The Federal Government is doing everything possible to cushion the effects of the hardships. 

“But we believe as a state, we should be able to do our part while the Federal Government is doing its part. That is the reason why today we are commencing with Awe Local Government by distributing the food items that the state government purchased to share with the people,” he stated.

Governor Sule said in addition to the rice, every beneficiary of the four bags of 7.5kg bags will also go home with N5000.

He disclosed that 100 beneficiaries, picked from the official social register were selected from each of the four wards making up Awe Local Government Area.

The Governor expressed optimism that each of the beneficiaries would perform a similar gesture by extending the largess to other members of the community who may be in need but who may not have benefitted from this exercise.

He used the opportunity of the event to speak about the ongoing construction of the market in Awe.

“I know we are building a market for you in Awe. I have not been able to personally inspect the ongoing work. I felt I should come and see what is happening there so that we can solve the problem, whatever it is,” he said.

The Governor also spoke about recent developments at the Dangote Sugar Refinery in Tunga, stressing that he would undertake a trip immediately after the distribution exercise to address the issues at stake.

“I should be able to go to Tunga to find out what is happening so that we can start benefiting from the project right now in Tunga,” he added.

He said he was equally in Awe to appreciate the people of the area for the love they showed for President Tinubu, himself, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.

“I am particularly in Awe because of the love the people of Awe have for Bola Tinubu, for me and our party, the APC. Since after the election, I believe I should be able to come over and over to come and thank the people for what you have done, for which we will continue to support you,” he stated.

In Azara, Governor Sule said he is aware there is hunger across the land, as well as economic hardship, adding that that explains why his administration must intervene to bring succor to the people.

The beneficiaries were drawn from the four wards making up the development area, namely Akiri, Azara, Ribi, and worse.

“From our end, we must continue to do something with or without something coming from the Federal Government. What we did is that before the grains come from the Federal Government, we decided that we are going to give rice and cash gift to the people,” he stated.

He pointed out that the distribution of palliative is one out of the several other interventions embarked upon by his administration including cash transfer both by the NG-CARES and Nasarawa State Social Investment Agency (NSSIA).

He said he was also in Azara to personally inspect the ongoing road construction leading to the town amongst other reasons.

“I am here for three reasons. The first reason is an opportunity to be able to share these food items. The second reason is because I wanted to see for myself the road construction coming to Azara. I wanted to be able to assess the project and see what is that we can do.

“The third reason and the most important, is for me to tell the people of Azara development area thank you for your performance during the last election. I want to thank you for your support. I want to tell you what you have done for us,” he stated.

The Governor however expressed concern that at such a critical moment of food scarcity, 500 trucks of rice could be exported out of the area to be sold outside the state.

He assured farmers in the area of continued support from the state government to enhance food production in Azara and its environs.

In her welcome address, State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and NGOs, Hon Magret Elayo, commended Governor Sule for always hearkening to the plight of the citizens of the state.

Hon. Elayo disclosed that, while in Awe Local Government Area, 2600 vulnerable persons would each benefit from 4 bags of 7.5kg bag of rice as well as five thousand naira, in Azara development area, 1600 beneficiaries would equally benefit.

She assured that adequate measures have been taken to ensure that only those captured by her ministry would benefit, adding that in case captured beneficiaries fail to turn up at the event, the Ministry would return such food items to the warehouse.

“If for any reason the shortlisted beneficiaries are not here to receive their share, the Ministry will return their share to the warehouse until those genuinely captured turn up to collect their share. These measures were taken to prevent eventual diversion of the palliative,” she said.

The Commissioner assured that her ministry would discharge its responsibility with sincerity and honesty.

Also, in his remarks, the Chairman of Awe Local Government Area, Hon. Usman Umar, said the event marks several of the gestures by the Governor Sule administration aimed at bringing succor to the people.

Hon. Umar used the opportunity of the event to congratulate the Governor over his recent victory at the Supreme Court that reaffirmed his as the duly elected Governor of the state during the 2023 general election.

“We are overjoyed to be among the beneficiaries of this laudable intervention. I assure you that all captured beneficiaries would make judicious use of the item,” he said.

Both the emirs of Awe and Azara, their royal highnesses, Alhaji Isa Abubakar Umar and Dr Kabiru Musa Ibrahim, appreciated the Governor for reaching out to the people to cushion their plight.