Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has announced that the state has received N2 billion out of the N5 billion subsidy removal palliative set by the Federal Government. He made this statement during the distribution of palliatives across households and polling units in the state.
The distribution initiative, led by the chairman of Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, covered nine local government areas in the state. The distributed items included five kg of rice, two bags of fertilizer, two liters of pesticides, and a carton of macaroni or spaghetti.
Governor Yahaya emphasized that the N2 billion received was part of the anticipated N5 billion from the Federal Government to provide relief due to the challenges caused by subsidy removal. He expressed doubts about the availability of such a large sum, especially considering the depletion of the strategic grain reserve that had been leased to a private company.
Yahaya recognized the concerns of inflation and market price increases that could arise from injecting N3 billion into the market for direct purchase of goods. He noted that the current situation necessitates preventive measures rather than curative palliatives. The Governor expressed his preference for promoting agriculture to ensure self-sufficiency instead of relying on palliatives.
While not pleased with the necessity of distributing palliatives, Governor Yahaya pledged to ensure effective leadership and take steps to move the state forward by encouraging agricultural productivity among the populace.