Posted by Prof. Anthony Owan-Eno, the Cross River State government’s secretary, has announced that the state has allocated an extra N500 million to the palliatives committee so that it can buy more supplies to ease the hardships caused in part by the elimination of the petroleum subsidy.
Owan-Eno made the announcement in a news release, detailing the distribution of the bags of rice to several groups: students (1,000 bags), religious organizations (800 bags), traditional leaders (400 bags), trade unions (300 bags), labor unions (800 bags), civil servants (800 bags), and those with disabilities (200 bags).
Motherless Baby Homes (200), Internally Displaced Persons (800), Refugees (800), Seniors (800), Support Groups/IPAC (1,100), Security (500), and the National Youth Council (100) round out the list.
Distributions will begin next week in all areas of the state, as verified by Ogeyi Odey, Director General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.
Odey said the Agency has planned out how to cover all 18 LGAs, and that anyone who isn’t now on the approved list will be swept up eventually.
The state’s warehouses that were damaged during the EndSARS protests in 2020 have been rebuilt with massive iron doors, according to the SEMA director.
Odey denied that traditional leaders, politicians, or government officials were exerting any kind of pressure on her to sabotage the palliatives.
She claims to have adequate protection at her several storage facilities across the state.
No one is putting any pressure on me, contrary to popular belief. I have not been pressured to favor someone by the government, a traditional chieftain, or party bigwigs.
“I only follow orders from the State Governor, and he has already given his blessing to the palliative care plan.
She steadfastly insisted, “Anyone or groups not yet captured can get to the governor, and he will advise me accordingly.”