A large chunk of the palliative rice released to Kogi State by the Federal Government of Nigeria to cushion the hardship occasioned by the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, has flooded open market in Lokoja and other parts of the State.
A source who confided in SUMMIT POST on condition of anonymity explained that those who were given palliative rice for onward distribution at local governments and ward levels withheld large chunk.
Throwing more light on their modus operandi, the source explained further that in order for the hoarders to make brisk business, they opened each of the bag of rice, fetch as much as three measures and seal it back before selling to rice dealers.
As a result of the diverted palliative rice, a bag of rice that should ordinarily cost between N45,000 and N47,000, now goes for N35,000. This sharp practices denied majority of Kogites access to the federal government assisted palliative rice, except for some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that got it.
Despite the fact that the palliative was meant for every citizen of the State, it was shared strictly for the members of the ruling party (APC) in the State.
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SUMMIT POST investigation further revealed that in Kogi Central, a measure of the palliative rice and one thousand naira was shared for the few who were lucky to have it.
The situation in Kogi East was worse. It was gathered that the few who got it were line-up and given a measure of rice and five hundred naira.
There’s outcry amongst majority of Kogites who felt short-changed that the palliative rice which was meant for every citizens of the Confluence state were shared for only ruling party members. Worse still, is the fact that only a few people got the meagre portion.
In the build-up November 11 governorship election and the Yultide, traders are already lamenting in apprehension that this might be their worst Christmas in decades because the diverted palliative rice still floods the market while the target beneficiaries are moving about on empty stomach.