…Begins distribution of 8,900 bags of fertilizer
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government has explained how it shared the 42,800 50kg bags of rice; 13,260 50kg bags of maize; and 3,196 25kg bags of maize it received from the Federal Government as palliatives to the people of the state to help them cushion the biting effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The federal palliatives according to the State Government, were received in batches and shared to the 17 local government areas in the state and other deserving beneficiaries.
This is as the State has said that distribution of 8,900 bags of Urea NPK fertilizer it also received from the Federal Government would continue next week.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Intervention, Rev Fr. Christian Anokwuru, who made the explanation during a press conference in Umuahia, said that Government was guided by equity and transparency in distributing the palliatives.
Giving details of how the palliatives came in, Rev. Anokwuru said in the first batch, the State government received a total of 16,800 50kg bags of rice and 13,260 50kg bags of maize, converted the maize to rice, and augmented it with additional 4,800 50kg bags of rice, making a total of 30,800 50kg bags of rice.
In the second batch, Dr Anokwuru said the state took delivery of 24,000 25kg bags of rice wherein it allocated 19,524 bags to Abia civil servants from Salary Grade Levels 01 to 08 while 4,476 bags were distributed to persons with disability, Abia Correctional Center, destitute homes, widows among others through the Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with Office of the Wife of the Governor.
According to him, the state government in the third batch, received 13,260 50kg bags of maize and 3,196 25kg bags of garri in which it shared 601 bags of maize and 144 bags of garri among the 17 LGAs in the state.
He said each LGA got 156 bags of maize, while faith-based organisations got 38 bags of garri each, and boarding schools got 23 bags of maize and six bags of garri
In the fourth batch, Rev Fr Anokwuru said that Abia received 8,900 bags of Urea and NPK Fertilizers, explaining that the state has mapped out days to distribute same across 15 LGAS excluding Aba North and Aba South LGAS as well as few wards in Obingwa and Osisioma LGAs which are urban areas with minimal farming activities.
He hinted that Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Isiala-Ngwa South LGAs will get their shares on Tuesday 24th September 2024 while that of Ohafia, Bende and Isialangwa-North would be on Wednesday 25th September 2024.
According to him, Thursday 26th September would be the turn of Ugwunagbo, Osisioma and Ukwa East, Isuikwuato, Umunneochi and Ukwa west would get theirs on Friday 27th September whereas Saturday 28th September will be the turn of Arochukwu, Obingwa and Ikwuano LGAS.
According to him the state designed the distribution plan to support farmers in both rural and semi-rural areas in recognition of the vital role of the agric sector.
Dr Anokwuru who was flanked by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, insisted that every palliative for the state would be equitably distributed devoid of political or religious leanings.
Ekeoma in his contribution, said that Gov. Otti is concerned about the plights of Abia residents in the face of the biting economic situation in the country, and is not only complementing the efforts of the Federal Government but is exploring other measures to mitigate their sufferings.
