In a bid to address the economic hardships triggered by the removal of fuel subsidies, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has initiated a food palliative intervention targeting 90,000 impoverished citizens.
The state government claims that the distribution, inaugurated at the Emir’s Palace in Gombe local government, aims to alleviate the impact of rising living costs on vulnerable members of society.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya emphasized the necessity of these palliatives, stating, “While it is not our wish to continually give such handouts, the current economic circumstances necessitated our intervention.” The previous distribution covered over 420 thousand people across the state, and the Governor pledged to persist until poverty challenges are overcome.
Acknowledging the struggles caused by the fuel subsidy removal, the Governor assured citizens that relief is on the horizon. He attributed hope to Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and the forthcoming revitalization of the Port Harcourt refinery, aiming to provide locally refined petroleum products.
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The Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, disclosed that the exercise would span all 2,998 polling units, benefiting 25 individuals from each unit. Each of the 114 political wards will receive allocations of spaghetti pasta and rice. Dr. Jatau urged responsible discharge of duties by distribution sub-committees.
While some community leaders expressed gratitude for the intervention, opinions on the effectiveness of such palliatives remain varied. The distribution continues at the ward and polling unit levels across the state, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of such measures in the absence of broader economic reforms.