Palliative not enough to end harship – Residents tells Govt

The plan by the Akwa Ibom State Government to distribute 100,000 bags of rice to residents of the state would not ameliorate the economic hardship in the state, some residents of Uyo have said.

The state government recently announced some measures, including the distribution of bags of rice, to cushion the economic hardship caused by the federal government’s removal of petroleum subsidy.

The oil-rich state is said to have over five million population as of 2016.

Prices of goods and services have continued to climb in Nigeria, and many families have been thrown into poverty and severe hardship since President Bola Tinubu announced the federal government’s withdrawal of fuel subsidy in May.

The pump price of petrol is now N650 or more (it was N250 before the subsidy was removed).

“A total of 100,000 bags of rice will be distributed statewide. Forty bags per village to the 2,272 gazetted villages and other strategic groups,” the Commissioner for Information in Akwa Ibom, Ini Ememobong, said on 31 August, as part of the state government’s intervention.

The government had approved N2 billion in financial support for government workers and pensioners.

“Fridays will become a ticket-free day for transport operators and traders in markets in all the local government areas until December 2023.” Mr Ememobong said.

The government also approved the payment of N10,000 bursary to undergraduate students of Akwa Ibom origin in all public tertiary institutions in Nigeria and the distribution of free exercise books to primary and secondary schools in the state.

“Discussions on transportation means like CNG buses and electric taxis are ongoing to ensure an effective, efficient and sustainable rollout,” the commissioner said.

In separate interviews with a PREMIUM TIMES reporter, on Monday, some residents of Uyo said the state government’s intervention would not offer meaningful help to the people.

“We have seen government interventions through palliatives before, but the impact is always minimal. Random, unorganised palliatives rarely help the situation,” Daniel Nweke, a dealer in automobile spare parts, said.

“So I am not interested in this kind,” he added.

He advised the state government to create access to credit for small businesses in the state.

Uduak Godwin, a periwinkle seller in Itam Market, said other foodstuffs, not only rice, are required in families’ food menu, and therefore, it would not make much sense to distribute rice to residents.

“The real solution to the hardship we are facing is to return the price of fuel to N250 (per litre),” she said.

Ms Godwin spoke on how the fuel price increase has hit her business.

“I used to buy a bag (of periwinkles) for N7,500, but today I am buying it for over N20,000. Even to collect the bag of periwinkles, I pay up to N1,500 for the waybill as against the N600 or N700 I used to pay,” she said.

(Premium Times)