Where Are Tinubu’s Trailer Loads Of Rice In Oyo State?

By Sola Abegunde

Things are extremely hard in Nigeria.

Most Nigerians could hardly afford a meal per day, not even a decent meal.

Many have attributed the current hardships to the economic policies of the present Administration and you might say, rightly so.

Prices of food and essential commodities began to rise immediately president Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Naira equally began to travel on a downward slope after the Government of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced its floatation.

There is no doubts and it is undefendable that the policies of the Tinubu Government has not made things more difficult for Nigerians.

If you doubt this ascertions, all you need to do is to look at the prices of petrol per litre, food stuffs, drugs and other essentials as at 29th May, 2023 and compare with what we have now, then, you’ll get your answer.

It is also not in dispute that, once the prices of petroleum products go up, the market responds negatively.

The announcement of the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol was done without adequate preparations no doubts but can we say that the president hasn’t done anything to respond to the hardships occassioned by the withdrawal?

The answer is yes. He has taken steps to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, though, the impacts are not felt by the citizens because the channels the president kept sending reliefs to the people are not the suitable ones.

President Tinubu increased monthly Allocations of the states by 2 billion Naira!

Who is feeling that?

Everyday, we keep hearing of monies being sent to the account numbers of less privileged Nigerians but we haven’t seen the people collecting them.

About two weeks ago, president Tinubu sent 20 trailer loads of rice to all the states of the Federation and a couple of days ago, he announced that another trailer loads, 10 in number has been dispatched to all the states, this time, to be sold at subsidized rates.

Sometimes, the Federal Government said it made some arrangements for grains to be given to all the states through the state Governors and Ministers in the Cabinet.

Question is, where are the palliatives? What is the impact?

I will take Oyo state for example. Some weeks ago, it was reported that the State Attorney general launched the distribution of palliatives in Atiba Local Government, Oyo Town.

Apart from that, I am not aware that the state Government made any significant attempt to distribute the series of palliatives received from the Federal Government.

At best, a scanty attempts are made and the Federal Government doesn’t even get the credit for it.

In most cases, state Governors engage in re-bagging of this palliatives, putting the logo of their political parties and robbing the Federal Government of the desired credit.

About a month and a half ago, it was reported that the Hon. Minister for Power also engaged in the distribution of some rice to some on Air personalities and a few organisations.

I must say that the procedure adopted by the Minister falls below standards.

Conceding numbers of bags of rice to selected Radio presenters to be distributed to the citizens who will be asked to call in and eventually have to find resources to go collect the palliatives at the Radio stations is not the best option.

I do not think president Tinubu’s intentions in releasing the palliatives includes such stress for the targeted recipients.

If the palliatives were to be the personal contribution of the Minister, no qualms.

However, palliatives sent by the president ought to be distributed through better and easier ways and the emphasis ought to be solely on the Federal Government.

The palliatives were supposed to be distributed to poor Nigerians.

How many poor Nigerians can afford to buy credit on their phones at this very crucial time to call Radio stations?

What is the capacity of the Radio stations to distribute massively, considering the limitations of time?

I thought going through the Religious Bodies, Professional Associations, Artisans, Political parties, since the palliatives are meant for all Nigerians, Traditional Institutions and more would have been a better alternative.

I am not saying that Radio stations are bad for such process but it is not enough.

The publicity for the sharing of the palliatives was also poor and ineffective.

I think it is time president Tinubu considered appointing Liaison officers in all the states.

Former president Shagari did it successfully.

Releasing palliatives through State Governors and Cabinet Ministers, most of who have political ambitions and are using such palliatives to promote their political ambitions will always be counter productive.

If Liaison officers are appointed and given the specific job to see to this kind of things amongst other duties, it should produce better results.

The Liaison officers should be given the template for sharing palliatives and should be monitored through either the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government or the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs.

Sola Abegunde writes from Eruwa