Prof Anthony Owan-Eno, Secretary to the Cross River State Government, has revealed that the state has acquired an additional N500 million for the palliatives committee to purchase more foodstuffs to cushion the effects of hard times caused, in part, by the elimination of fuel subsidies.
Owan-Eno revealed this in a press statement, listing the distributions of rice bags to various groups as follows: Students 1000 bags, Religious Groups 800, Traditional Rulers 400, Trade Unions 300, Labour Unions 800, Civil Servants 800, and Persons Living With Disabilities 200.
Other organizations include 200 Motherless Babies Homes, 800 IDPs, 800 Refugees, 800 Pensioners, 1100 Support Groups/IPAC, 500 Security, and 100 National Youth Council.
Ogeyi Odey, Director General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, verified that the goods had been received and that distributions will commence next week in all sections of the state.
Odey added that the Agency has already planned how to cover all 18 LGAs, and that any organization that is not now on the approved list will be captured soon.
The state’s warehouses, which were burned during the EndSARS protests in 2020, have been fitted with large iron doors to protect the supplies, according to the SEMA chief.
Odey denied receiving any pressure to redirect the palliatives from government and ruling APC officials, traditional authorities, or lawmakers.
She stated that she has sufficient security cover at the numerous warehouses throughout the state to sustain distributions.
“It is not true that I am under any pressure from anybody. No government, traditional chieftain or party bigwigs has put me under pressure to favour them.
“I only take instructions from the State Governor and he has since approved how the palliatives should go.
“Anybody or groups not yet captured can get to the governor and he will advise me accordingly”, she maintained.