740 Truckloads of Rice: Another Palliative Measure and the Need for Proper Monitoring By Zekeri Laruba Idakwo

As the Federal Government announced the distribution of 740 truckloads of rice to 36 states and the FCT, the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi, assured that the effort will continue in some form. While this gesture aims to alleviate economic hardship, the real challenge lies in ensuring that the aid reaches those who need it most.

With 20 trucks allocated to each state, carrying 1,200 bags of 25kg rice, the need for effective supervision and accountability cannot be overstated. The experience with the subsidy palliative serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability.

Unfortunately, Nigeria has a history of palliative failures, marred by corruption and mismanagement. The Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, responsible for social welfare funds, has been plagued by allegations of corruption.

For instance, former Minister Sadiya Farouq and her successor, Dr. Betta Edu are both under investigation for misappropriation of funds meant for vulnerable Nigerians.

Farouq was quizzed by the EFCC in January over allegations of corruption in the handling of N37.1 billion social intervention funds during her tenure, while Edu was suspended by President Bola Tinubu in January after a leaked memo revealed suspicious financial transactions she authorized in her ministry.

Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the flaws in our palliative system, as relief materials meant for distribution in 2020 were still stored in warehouses in October, casting doubts on the transparency and accountability of state governments.

In the same vein, the private sector’s efforts, through the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), raised over N26bn, which was mostly used to purchase relief materials. However, the distribution of these materials was shrouded in mystery, with many Nigerians unaware of how the relief materials were distributed across states.

Furthermore, the subsidy removal palliative fund has also been marred by controversy, with state governors being asked to account for the N72 billion palliative collected from the federal government. The federal government disbursed N2 billion out of the N5 billion palliative packages to each state and the FCT, but the spending of these funds has been opaque.

As the government announces this latest food palliative, we urge the Minister to learn from the mistakes of the past and prioritise proper monitoring and transparency. The nation is tired of temporary, stop-gap measures that fail to address the root causes of economic hardship.

Instead of feeding people with peanuts, the government should fix the economy, address inflation, and ensure that purchasing power returns. It’s time to address insecurity, so people can farm and fend for themselves.

The government must prioritise proper monitoring and ensure that the aid reaches those who need it most, and that the allocation is fair and equitable.