The Ekiti State Government has begun the distribution of 3, 000 bags of rice as palliatives to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.

Briefing journalists at the end of the weekly executive meeting, Ebenezer Boluwade, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, who is also the chairman of the Palliative Distribution Committee, said five trucks of palliatives landed in the state on Monday.

According to him: “As of last Friday, we received 3, 000 bags of rice from the Federal Government. During the offloading of the five trucks, 18 bags were found to be defective, meaning that the good ones were 2,992 bags.

“We specially allocated 100 bags for widows, and 200 bags for all artisans in the private sector, while the transport union got 180 bags. All the market women in Ekiti State were allocated 100 bags. A special group got 150 bags, while people with disabilities got 140. The elderly, i.e., the pensioners, got 100 bags. The civil servants comprising the junior staff got 100 bags.”

He added that the distribution, which will begin on Wednesday, will spread across the 177 political wards in the 16 local governments of the state.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said the distribution will be done in batches and will reach everyone, irrespective of political parties.

He advised those who are yet to benefit from the first tranche of the distribution to exercise patience as the palliative would go round the state.