Wike cautions against diversion of palliatives in FCT

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has issued a warning against the misappropriation of painkillers intended for the area’s most vulnerable and underprivileged populations.

The FCT minister said this during the ongoing delivery of food to Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)’s most vulnerable people on Tuesday.

According to NAN, the FCT Administration (FCTA) started distributing 12,000 sacks of food and corn to disadvantaged households throughout the FCT’s six area councils on Monday.

The minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to addressing the situation of the underprivileged while being represented by Mr. Lawan Geidam, Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA.

He emphasised the need to give priority to their concerns, explaining that the withdrawal of petroleum subsidies has a disproportionately negative impact on the poor and vulnerable members of society.

Consequently, he issued a warning to those in charge of the distribution exercise, advising them to resist any temptation to divert the food products intended to lessen the effects of the subsidy elimination.

“The determination of the President Bola Tinubu administration to continue the palliative distribution shows its commitment to helping the FCT’s most disadvantaged citizens.

“The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and ensure that essential food items reach those most in need,” Wike said.

Prior to this, Mr. Christopher Maikalangu, the chairman of AMAC, encouraged the state to give AMAC extra food due to the area’s significant poor population.

The food supplies will reach the targeted people in all of the political wards of the council, Maikalangu promised the minister.

Wike gave the same warning at a similar drill at the Bwari Area Council, saying that FCTA would not tolerate any sabotage.