The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), a prominent civil rights organization in Nigeria, has commended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for the fair distribution of palliatives throughout the state to mitigate the economic impact of the fuel subsidy withdrawal.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, by its Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, and Secretary, Barr. Christopher Ekpo, CHRAN expressed satisfaction with the distribution of palliative rice and garri provided by the Federal Government of Nigeria and supplemented by the Akwa Ibom State Government.
CHRAN highlighted that two weeks prior, the state had received 24,000 bags of 25-kilogram rice from the Federal Government, which the state government matched with an additional 24,000 bags, totaling 48,000 bags of rice.
The organization confirmed that these palliatives were distributed to 2,282 gazetted villages in Akwa Ibom State, with each village receiving 20 bags of rice and 2 bags of garri. The Transition Committee Chairmen of the 31 Local Government Councils oversaw the delivery and distribution of the palliatives to the villages within their jurisdictions.
CHRAN noted that the distribution process, which began on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Uyo Federal Constituency and concluded on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Oron Federal Constituency, was closely monitored by CHRAN and security agencies.
The exercise was coordinated by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. (Mrs.) Offiong Offor, and proceeded without issues. CHRAN added that persons with disabilities, security agencies, non-indigenes, and various other groups also received the palliative items.
