Bauchi State Government, on Monday, distributed rice to 10,764 beneficiaries in the Bauchi Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Mrs Hajara Wanka, disclosed this at the inauguration of the exercise on Monday in the state.
The distribution exercise took place at the premises of Bauchi Local Government Area Secretariat.
The state government had expended N2 billion on the procurement of rice for distribution to vulnerable households as a post-subsidy removal palliative initiated by the Federal Government.
She said the gesture was meant to alleviate the hardship occasioned as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Commissioner said the Palliative Distribution Committee headed by the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu had so far conducted the exercise in eight Local Government Areas of the state.
“Gov. Bala Mohammed directed that the food items should be distributed first to enable the beneficiaries in the 20 LGAs to have something to eat.
“Conditional cash transfer would soon be made as beneficiaries have already been identified across the state.
“As soon as we finish all administrative processes, the amount will be transferred to each of the beneficiaries.
“Each beneficiary is to go home with one bag of 25 kilogramme of rice. It is for one person and not to be shared with anyone.
“You are not representing anybody else; you are here for yourself. Take your bag of rice and go home with it,” she said.
The Caretaker Chairperson, Bauchi Local Government Council, Mrs Zainab Baba-Takko, admonished against the diversion of the commodity while calling onthe beneficiaries to use it to fend for their family needs.
Also, the District Head of Bauchi, Alhaji Nura Jumba, commended the gesture, noting that it would mitigste the sufferings of the people.
The beneficiaries were seen with the bags of rice being escorted by security agencies out of the premises.
