By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Sokoto State Government has revealed 55 percent reduction in the prices of rice and other essential goods that have been sourced for the community.
This was disclosed on Monday by Governor Ahmed Aliyu during the inauguration of the state and local government monitoring teams for the subsidized sale of food items.
Aliyu explained that this gesture is intended to alleviate the impact of the present difficulties caused by the elimination of the fuel subsidy in the nation.He clarified that the food provisions were intended to support every household in all 244 wards throughout the state.
He warned: “Avoid any political, ethnic or religious consideration while discharging your assignment. Make sure every family has free access to these items because it is meant for every resident of this state.
“We are all aware that since the inception of the present political dispensation, several economic upsets were witnessed nationally and internationally owing to the changing pattern of global economic indices and contraction of fortunes of the global finances.
“However, certain national reform policies initiated by the Federal Government to redirect the economic and social fortunes of the country for future growth and development could not pacify the situation in the country. Policies such as the removal of fuel subsidy, electricity tariffs and others, subjected our people to varying economic hardships and numerous tests of livelihood.
“We are all living witness to the fact that numerous efforts in the form of Palliatives were initiated and executed by both the Federal and State Governments to cushion the effect of the hardship.
“Considering the social indices of our state and certain peculiarities, the state government extended various palliatives of different commodities to all corners and cronies of the state free of charge and procured mass transit vehicles whose services were subsidised to ease transportation difficulties of our people within the state and beyond.
“In this new approach, the state government procured food items and other essential commodities meant to be sold at a 55% discounted rate to enable families to access the commodities for the well-being of their members.
“The state government is committed to sustaining the supply of the commodities to all the 244 wards in the state with guaranteed access to all families irrespective of any social differences and/or political affiliations. I would like to assure all that the initiative will be sustained until when the economic situation improves in the country.”