The Bayelsa State government has started distributing rice and other foodstuffs provided by the Federal Government to help ease the economic difficulties faced by its residents. The initiative began on Monday in Yenagoa, the state’s capital, during the 34th State Security Council meeting.
Governor Douye Diri made it clear that the food distribution is exclusively for the state’s most vulnerable citizens. He emphasized that no political appointees or civil servants should benefit from this relief effort. This directive aims to ensure that the aid reaches those who genuinely need it.
Bayelsa State recently received 20 truckloads of rice, each containing 24,000 bags of 25kg rice, from the Federal Government. The state government has also prepared other foodstuffs like garri for distribution.
During the launch of the distribution, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, highlighted the governor’s instructions to deliver the food items to the vulnerable individuals across all political wards in the state. The distribution will be carried out in phases based on the senatorial districts.
On Monday, rice and garri were distributed in the Central Senatorial District, covering Yenagoa, Southern Ijaw, and Kolokuma/Opokuma LGAs. The distribution will continue in Bayelsa East, including Brass, Nembe, and Ogbia LGAs, on Tuesday. By Wednesday, Bayelsa West, comprising Sagbama and Ekeremor LGAs, will receive their share.
“The food items we are distributing are meant for the underprivileged, vulnerable groups in society,” said Koku-Obiyai. “The governor has directed that no political appointee should take this food; elected officers and civil servants are exempted. It is for people that have no jobs, the core vulnerable groups, those are the people that should get this food.”
To ensure fairness, each ward will receive 190 bags of 25kg rice and 30 bags of garri. The government is closely monitoring the distribution to prevent any diversion of the aid.
Governor Diri also stressed that the rice distribution should be free from political bias, stating, “This rice has no PDP face or APC face. It’s for every Bayelsan. No one should play politics with the distribution.”
Walaman Igrubia, the Chairman of Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, mentioned that all key stakeholders in each local government area are involved in the process to avoid any misappropriation of the food items. He also noted that a committee is being established to oversee the distribution, ensuring that any government official misusing the aid will face serious consequences.
