Gombe gov mocks FG’s palliatives, implores people to embrace agriculture.

Muhammadu Yahaya, the governor of Gombe State, reported that the state had received N2 billion of the N5 billion set aside by the federal government as a subsidy removal palliative.

At the grand finale of the palliatives distribution on the grounds of the Gombe Emir’s palace on Wednesday, Yahaya, who doubles as the chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, disclosed this information.

According to our correspondent, since the governor launched the distribution in Yalmatu Deba last week, the committee led by the head of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency has travelled to nine LGAs, dispersing painkillers among households and voting booths.

Five kilogrammes of rice, two bags of fertiliser, two litres of pesticides, and a carton of macaroni or spaghetti are just a few of the supplies distributed.

Yahaya asserts that there won’t be the miracle that people expecting the N5 billion from the Federal Government are expecting, noting that only N2 billion has already reached state coffers.

We have been distributing among the 11 Local Government Areas, he said. This is merely a preliminary step in anticipation of what the Federal Government will offer to provide palliative care in response to the harms caused to people as a result of subsidy removal, as there is dislocation in the nation and a number of issues—the majority of which didn’t even begin now but which we must address now.

“That is why I’m emphasising that those who received these must use them properly, especially if they own a farm. You can use the two fertiliser bags to ensure that your farm is productive.

“For those hoping that the N5 billion that the federal government is giving to the states will bring about miracles, this N2 billion only hit the account of the Gombe State Government, and we have N2 billion worth of rice that we can purchase as soon as the next payment is made to us, according to the palliative committee, as well as grains, especially maize, that we received from the Central Bank that is worth N1 billion.

“I don’t think the Federal Government, either through CBN or any of its agencies, has that much money in reserve. For instance, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s grain silos in Gombe have been leased to a private company, which means that the 25,000 tonnes of grain that were supposed to be a strategic reserve are now out of the government’s control and in the hands of the private sector.

“If you give N3b and ask that we go to the market and buy directly from the market, it will add more inflation, the prices will go up again, and the problem will persist,” he continued.

Palliatives, according to Yahaya, are curative rather than preventive maintenance that would end hunger. He expressed his displeasure with them.

“We will carefully consider how to use our own funds and make sure they reach the right group of people. The deputy governor will be in charge of making sure the Federal Government’s palliatives are implemented and reach the appropriate people.

We distributed a palliative package. We shouldn’t be sharing palliatives because we are in a situation we caused ourselves. Instead, the government should teach people to return to farming so they can produce what they eat. I’m not happy about this.

We take a step back, pause, and take the necessary action. Inshallah, Yahaya promised, “I will provide that effective leadership needed so that together we can move forward.”