Edo State Government has flagged off the second phase of the food support programme with the distribution of 56,250 bags of rice to the vulnerable Christians in the State.

Recall that the State Government had two months ago distributed 60,000  bags of rice to Christians across the 18 Local Government Areas. The government had also distributed several thousands of bags of rice to Muslim faithful across the State.

Speaking at the official flagging off of the distribution of the food support programme at the weekend in Benin City, Governor Godwin Obaseki, said it was part of his Administration’s palliatives to addressing the economic hardship being experienced by the most vulnerable in the State as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Governor Obaseki said the first phase of the programme was a pilot stage and the Government was encouraged to come up with the second phase due to the success recorded by the first phase, adding that the programme would also feature the third phase.

He, however,  tasked the Federal Government to be transparent in dealing with the current economic hardship in the Country. According to him, the problem with political leaders is that they lack transparency and this has made the citizens not trust us.

Earlier, Irekpono Omoike, Edo State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) while commending the governor for all his accomplishments in the State, said 60,000 bags of rice were first distributed in the first phase of the programme, adding that the second phase had 56,250 bags distributed.

He said out of the 56,250 bags of 10kg rice, 21,875 bags were for Edo South;15,625 were distributed for the Edo Central, while 18,750 bags were for Edo North Senatorial District.

He said a total of 116, 250 bags of rice had since been distributed to Christians across the 18 Local Governments in the State.

Published Date: July 29, 2024