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The Federal Government, under the food security programme of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu has distributed 10,000 bags of rice to associations, organisations and groups in Oyo State to cushion the effect of economic hardship in the state.
The distribution, which was the phase one of the food security programme in the state, was to mitigate the effect of fuel subsidy removal and biting inflation.
The event, which held in Ibadan, was attended by various groups, organisations, associations and traditional rulers in Oyo State.
President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said his administration is committed to improving the standard of living of Nigerians.
The president noted that he was aware of the current economic hardship and sufferings of the people, but he assured that the country would soon get over the challenges.
Tinubu said the rice distribution does not have any political colouration, adding that it was part of the palliative to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.
He enjoined the people to continue to support the his administration, assuring that he will not relent in his efforts to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
“This programme is all about the message from our dear president, the hardworking and indefatigable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Under his food security programme in the Renewed Hope Agenda, he is committed to improving the standard of living of our people.
“He said he is aware of the hardship and sufferings that our people are currently passing through and he is assuring that it is a temporary thing.
“That very soon we will all start enjoying the dividends of this administration.
“We, therefore, decided to give us our own share in Oyo State, through my very good self, a total of 10,000 bags of rice.
“And he said this is not a political thing– it is not politics, it is in furtherance of good governance.
“The rice belongs to every citizen, every resident of Oyo State. In distribution, we must be transparent and ensure that it touches every association, every group, every religious association, every traditional association, every ethnic association resident in Oyo State which is why we made it open.
“Everybody could see this rice as they are arranged and organised and we have a list of all eligible association which we are going to distribute to m from today.
“We have the list of all association that is entitled to the rice.
“I want to enjoin our people to continue to pray for this administration; our leaders have tried to improve the lives of our people, to improve the standard of living our people.
“All we need from you is your prayers, that God should continue to guide us, protect our lives and ensure that we are able to take you to our desired destination.
“This is just the phase one of the food security palliative, which is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.
“We will be witnessing this kind of distribution regularly and as far as we able to get anything from Abuja, we will call you and together we will distribute it,” Adelabu said.