To ensure the efficient distribution of palliatives to residents in all 25 Local Government Areas, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has declared next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as public holidays.

Speaking at a press conference at Government House, Minna, the governor announced that the state had supplemented the N5 billion palliative fund from the federal government with an additional N250 million.
He explained that the funds will be distributed to various wards, traditional institutions, and internally displaced persons, with specific amounts allocated to each group.
Additionally, the state will receive five trucks of rice for each ward, and more bags of maize are expected for distribution across the state.
The governor noted that the palliatives are not free; the state and local governments will repay 58% of the N5 billion over 20 months, with the federal government covering the rest.

Local committees, including former and current public office holders, will oversee the distribution process. The committees at the local government and ward levels will decide which food items to buy based on the needs of their communities.

To ease the effects of fuel subsidy removal, the state government will introduce 200 CNG luxurious buses for public transportation, with free rides for students and discounted fares for civil servants. The buses will serve various routes across the state.

On agriculture, the governor has directed the Ministries of Lands and Agriculture to provide 10,000 hectares of land in every Local Government by December 2023, to boost food security.

This initiative will also create jobs for 500,000 youths and 400,000 women.

The governor also mentioned plans to revive the payment of bursaries to students and warned that anyone found mismanaging the distribution of palliatives will be jailed.