Kwara State Government on Wednesday commenced the distribution of rice palliatives to the less privileged people in the state with a citizen-led effort ensuring that the packages get to the most deserving.

On August 22, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq inaugurated the 12-person committee to coordinate the distribution of the palliatives purchased with the 2bn received from the federal government in his bid to rid the exercise of partisanship, corruption, and lack of accountability.

There have been reports of partiality in the media about the exercise in some other states. "Beneficiaries will be identified on a nonpartisan basis by the committee of eminent Kwarans.

This committee has continued to consult with different blocs of our communities as well as evidence-based registers of vulnerable people domiciled with key agencies of government such as the health insurance, primary healthcare agencies, as well as the World Bank. Distribution will be done in accordance with the timetable and logistics of the committee," the Governor said at the flag off of the distribution in Ilorin, the state capital.

He was represented by the Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly Engr Yakubu Danladi.

The Governor added that huge investments are being made to boost the manufacturing sector, strengthen local production of food through commercial agriculture, local production of CNG and electric vehicles, and mass employment for young people in different aspects to strengthen the economy.

He could not have said it better.

Barely 24 hours after the flag-off by the members of the palliative committee, several beneficiaries have started giving account of the difference in the exercise, expressing trust and confidence in the leadership of the government to pull the vulnerable persons out of the precipice and further forge a state that works for all. ------

The evidence-based register By 9 am, several residents had started gathering at the venue of the flag-off on Wednesday. As they arrived, they sat on the chairs and canopies provided by the committee for convenience.

Beneficiaries from each group had a tag for identification as a bonafide person qualified for the palliative.

It was most orderly, well-coordinated and structured.

At the flag-off, the committee invited 32 social, community, labour, profession, religious groups, including representatives of persons living with disabilities; WOWICAN; Miyetti Allah, Marketmen and women group; Hausa community; Igbo Community; South-south community; Youth Council; NANS; Youth CAN; Orphanage; NUT; NUJ; TUC; FOMWAN; Non-indigene community; NURTW; NLC and Artisans groups.

The list was collated by the committee after rigorous consultation with key agencies of the government such as health insurance, primary healthcare agencies, and World Bank.

All of these groups nominated their most vulnerable members to be supported with the palliative.

After collection, leaders of each group would proceed to signing the official paper in confirmation of collection for their people.

For instance, 'Okada' riders were allocated 400 bags of 10kg rice, Orphanage 400, Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD) 300, Pensioners 300, among other groups.

Eventually, it is recorded that some 7,000 bags of 10kg rice were handed to people across the state through these registered associations for diversity, inclusion, and maximum impact.

It is, however, a fraction of the targeted total beneficiaries which is being put at 250,000 10kg bags of rice for the first phase.

Chairperson of the committee, CP Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi explained that they would continue to deploy multidimensional and all-encompassing strategies in making sure that the palliative items get to the targeted vulnerable across the three senatorial districts of the state. -----

"A fresh of breathe air"

It may be barely 24 hours since they started work. It may have even just reached about 3% of its targeted audience. But the difference in the approach adopted by the Kwara State Government with the committee is already being felt positively.

Some of the members of the different groups who have received their package could not hide their feelings about the state government.

A representative of Jamaatul Nasrul Islam, Muhammad Idiagbon, male, expressed trust in the exercise to reduce hardship in the state since it is being given directly to the deserving.

"The method is simple and efficient. The way it is being done shows that the government loves and cares for the less privileged.

"If this approach is used to distribute to each ward and followed by those who are entrusted with it, the majority will be reached and the people will breathe a sigh of relief," Muhammad said.

The committee is reportedly targeting next Monday to start the ward-by-ward distribution, which would see the palliatives being taken to all 16 local governments after agreeing on the modalities with all the stakeholders and interest groups.

In a similar vein, Zainab, a visually impaired middle-aged woman, expressed happiness that the disabled community was captured, especially without hassle.

"I am happy I got the rice palliative. It is now expensive in the market. As it is, it is 'big money' I have just been given. Yet, we got it without stress. May God strengthen the governor for us."

Zainab was alluding to the exclusion and lack of ease for the disabled community in benefitting from government's programmes in the past.

Other beneficiaries from the Pensioners, Non-indigene, and FOMWAN groups also applauded AbdulRazaq for this initiative aimed at cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy.

It is the early days of the palliative distribution exercise in Kwara but Governor AbdulRazaq's palliative committee is a train of relief moving well, safely, and soundly.