Palliative Distribution: Wike Warns Against Diversion

By: Wisdom Acka

As the FCT Administration continues distribution of palliatives to residents across the six Area Councils of the Territory, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday explained that priority was placed on the vulnerable persons in society becuase they were the worst hit by the subsidy removal regime.

This was as the Minister warned all staff and other stakeholders involved in the distribution process to avoid every temptation to divert the palliative items to personal use.

Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Lawan Kolo Geidam, who represented the FCT Minister for the distribution at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Town Hall in Apo Resettlement, expressed FCTA commitment to initiate and strengthen citizens’confidence in 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, the AMAC Chairman, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, urged the Administration to give priority to his Council by allocating more of the palliative items to the Area Council because it was the largest out of the six Councils in FCT.

He assured that the materials would be distributed in all the wards and villages, ensuring they get to those who deserved them.

At Bwari Area Council, Secretary, Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Ibrahim Aminu, who supervised the exercise, said that the FCTA would not take lightly any act of sabotage from anyone involved in the distribution processes.

He said: “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”.

Bwari Area Council Chairman, John Gabaya, urged economically viable residents to allow the less privileged to get the items.

Gabaya noted: “this palliative is 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”

In Gwagwalada Area Council, Secretary, Area Council Services Secretariat, Bitrus Garki, appealed to residents of the Council to support the present administration of President Bola Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

He said that the Wike-led FCTA has given hope to original inhabitants in the FCT, particularly concerning political appointments and the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission; adding that their long demand for a state status to be given to FCT were gradually being achieved.

According to him, the present Administration deserved the prayers and support of the natives of FCT for appointing an indigene of Abuja as one of the Ministers in the present administration and also appointing an indigenous youth as the youngest Secretary in the country.

Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman, Abu Giri, commended the President and FCT Minister for the items, which he said would alleviate the hardship faced by vulnerable persons in his Council.

Giri, who promised that the materials would reach the target population, appealed to the FCTA to come to the aid of the Council in the area of development.