By
Babangida Galleon
Adamawa state governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has urged citizens of the state to have confidence in the government.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri stated this during the official flag off for the distribution of palliative in the state in order to cushion the hardship occasioned by subsidy removal.
The occasion which took place at Karewa Primary school within the Jimeta metropolis attracted citizens and other top Government functionaries.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said working together and with the support and coorperation of the people of the state will definitely help in overcoming all challenges.
Fintiri emphasized that,as the governor, he is always sensitive to whatever challenges the people of the state are facing at all times.
“Almost immediately after the fuel subsidy removal was announced, I constituted a committee with my Chief of Staff as Chairman, to recommend measures that would cushion the effects of that policy on our people. After painstakingly assessing the impact of the policy, the Committee recommended measures that have direct effects especially on cost of transportation, food items and agricultural inputs”
The governor said, his administration had already started implementing some of the recommendations of the constituted committee which include; the payment of special allowances to civil servants and pensioners in the State and Local Government Councils, procurement and distribution of about 100 trucks of high-quality fertilizers to civil servants and farmers as well as procurement of 10 IVC luxurious buses which will soon be on the roads.
Governor Fintiri further said, government had also procured large quantities of food items especially rice and maize in collaboration with the Federal and Local Governments.
“specifically, we are beginning with the distribution of 60,000 bags of 25 kg of rice to vulnerable house holds free of charge irrespective of political affiliations”.
According to the governor, the current economic hardship being faced, especially the shortage or high cost of food items is not only due to fuel subsidy removal nor is it peculiar to Nigeria, but there are Some other factors like the Russian war on Ukraine and climate change that contributed as well.
He explained that the government is committed to helping the people to cope and overcome their pains regardless of the causes.
While urging the people to be prudent, make economically-sensible decisions and protect the environment, the governor reiterated the ban on cutting trees for charcoal production with a warning that government will continue to prosecute and deal decisively with whoever violated or aid in violating the ban.
Governor Finitiri called on farmers in the state to resist the temptation of selling their farm produce on the farms or shortly after harvest in order to tackle early food shortages, with a call to the people to embrace dry season farming.
He equally appealed to those living in flood prone areas and move to higher ground and also directed local government councils to take proactive measures to address any eventuality that may arise from flood.
Also speaking, the chairman of the palliative coordinating and distribution committee who doubled as the secretary to the state government, Auwan Tukur said the kick-off of the distribution which is in tandem with the vision of the state governor will surely reach the people at the grass root.
While appreciating the governor for the effort, the chairman added that the palliative distribution will indeed reach the needy across Adamawa state.
