The Kwara State Palliative Committee on Thursday continued the distribution of the 250,000 (10kg) bags of rice.

The exercise had begun on Wednesday with Oke-Ero and Asa Local Government Areas.

The distribution train moved to Ilorin South and Kaiama Local Government Areas on the second day.

The palliative programme is a federal/state government initiative with the aim of cushioning the effect of fuel subsidy removal on the most vulnerable citizens.

Speaking at the distribution center, a member of the committee, Dr. Lawal Olalekan Olohungbebe, noted that the distribution is across party lines.

Olohungbebe said the palliative committee was not politically set up and the mandate they got from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was to distribute to Kwarans irrespective of political parties, saying that's exactly what they hold on to.

He also spoke generally on the activities today, the challenges faced and how they were able to tackle it.

According to him, “Today, we were able to serve Kaiama Local Government Area. We had loaded all the items last night so they set out as early as possible in the morning. After Kaiama we continued with Ilorin South, so far we are 80% done as far as Ilorin South is concerned and we are still here. Hopefully, everything about Ilorin South is going to be done today.

"The supporting Chairperson was here, the Emir of Shonga. He only came to see how things are going and to motivate and inspire us. He stood here; he asked questions, met with the people and later had to go for some important assignments.”

Fielding questions on today's exercise compared to that of yesterday, he said, "there is a difference because people are now more aware of the modus operandi. Now they know how to get their vehicles, who is going to pay for what and every other things.

"Now they know how to go about that, so there is better awareness. Of course, there are challenges because it is Ilorin. It is more challenging because of the population and the interests.

"Some politicians came with the sole aim of hijacking the distribution, but to God be the glory we are here and were able to convince them and make them understand that the committee is not political and that is what His Excellency also wants that is why he has put everybody on the committee.

“We explained to them that this is not for any political party and they got the message.

“The total number of bags that went to Kaiama Local Government this morning is 11,000 (10kg) bags of rice and going to be shared among the vulnerable persons in each ward of the local government.”

As far as Ilorin South is concerned, the total number of bags of rice assigned to it is 19,800, the committee member added.