COVID-19 Palliatives: Low Receipts From Customs Delaying FG’s Rice Distribution – Minister
- Says only 40 trucks handy
- Ogun, Lagos join CCT programme
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI, ABUJA – The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, says delay by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in releasing the seized 150 trucks of rice is hampering Federal Government’s planned palliatives to cushion the coronavirus pandemic’s adverse effects on Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable populace
According to Hajia Farouq, the Ministry has only taken delivery of 40 trucks of rice to service President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives for welfare items distribution to the 36 states of the federation.
However, Hajia Farouq’s position contradicts recent statement by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed indicating the seized trucks of rice have been handed over to the Ministry of humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for onward distribution to Nigerians as COVID-19 palliative packages
Speaking at Tuesday’s daily briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja, the Minister said the remaining 110 trucks were still being expected from the Customs in order to deliver on the presidential mandate of alleviating the suffering of Nigeria’s poor at this period.
“This is what was pledged by customs but so far, we have only 40 trucks available. We have been able to collect 20 trucks of rice from Lagos depot and we have given Lagos state their share and we have taken to Ogun while the one for FCT is on the way.
“We have also given to Imo and Ebonyi state. We gave two trucks of rice to Ebonyi and three trucks for Imo”, she said.
Hajia Farouq, in explaining the shortfall in delivery and distribution, said; “Why we have a disparity in number is because we are supposed to get 19 trucks from the Onne depot. But unfortunately, we were only able to get five. We are still in talks with Nigeria Customs to see how we can get the balance.”
Also reacting to controversies surrounding the non-inclusion of some states in the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCTP), the Minister said registration and capturing of beneficiaries have just commenced in Lagos and Ogun states to address noticeable gaps in the social welfare programme implementation.
She stated that on a visit to Ogun state last week, “they were in the process of doing the registration for the Conditional Cash Transfer because Ogun was not in the programme and also Lagos. We have started the process of the registration of the capturing of the beneficiaries for the conditional cash transfer. But for the other palliatives, we have taken to Ogun State and Lagos state.”
Hajia Farouq also spoke on government’s decision to continue with the school feeding programme despite the closure of schools, stressing that the Ministry has put in place modalities to ensure malnourished children are fed within this period.
“On the issue of malnourished children, the President also directed that we should continue with the homegrown school feeding programme without compromising the aim of that programme. We are finalizing modalities for the distribution of food to up to 3million households.”
Consequently, she disclosed that; “Vouchers will explicitly state the date, time and location in line with the protective measures. Once the modalities are finalized, the three frontline states will be prioritized before we go to other states.
“We have secured the support of the World Food Programme to support us with other logistics in this regard. We have also door-to-door voucher system and this is what we hope to do and in that package, we have rice, beans, soya beans and other condiments that we have provided for these households where these children come from.”
On plans by the Federal Government to expand the scope of its welfare coverage, the Minister said the President has directed that those who earn their livelihood daily be targeted in this second phase of the lockdown extension.
