As part of efforts to mitigate the untold hardship the naira swap challenge has heaped on the people of Ogun State, Gov Dapo Abiodun on Friday evening promised to begin distribution of 400,000 food items to the poor and vulnerable across the 20 local government this weekend.
Gov Abiodun, in a broadcast made to address the nagging shortage of naira occasioned by the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as the protracted fuel crisis disclosed that the state officers for the social investment programme at each of the local government would handle the distribution of the food items.
"As a responsible administration, we have decided to directly provide palliatives to the poor and vulnerable citizens across the length and breadth of the state. We will be distributing the first phase of 400,000 food items through our social investment officers in each LGA to the communities starting from this weekend.
"We hope this social intervention provides some succour to our people. Again, we apologise for the inadvertent hardship and inconveniences this policy has caused all of us".
The governor revealed that his administration has however not gone to sleep over the crisis created by the unavailability of the new naira notes saying that the APC governors had met President Buhari and the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele over the matter with an assurance that something would be done to ease Nigerians pains over this crisis.
He disclosed that his government had also met with CBN, Ogun State branch as well as the Bankers Committe, the umbrella body of the commercial banks operating in the state with an assurance to improve on the supply of the new naira notes particularly by CBN so that people could get their money from their respective banks.
The governor disclosed that, it was however unfortunate that things got out of hand on Tuesday as some youth hit the street to protest while also vandalising public properties.
He has however appealed to the residents of the state to give peace a chance as violence would never resolve the issue at hand saying that his government is working round the clock with other stakeholders to bring the crisis to an end.
Abiodun said "I appeal to our leaders at various levels, including our revered Royal Fathers, Civil Society Organisations, Youth
Organisations, Students’ Bodies, the Organised Labour and Religious Leaders to help sensitise our people on the need to embrace peace and Dialogue in resolving these issues.
"I am more than convinced that the CBN Policy on the New Naira Notes is not a punitive measure but aimed at addressing perceived fundamental problems associated with money management in our economy.
"While the CBN has assured that there will be adequate money supply to the money deposit banks in the days ahead, we expect the banks to promptly disburse the money as directed and not to divert or withhold same for whatever reasons. The government will treat any erring banks and bankers as economic saboteurs and will not hesitate to wield the big stick.
Just as we are tackling the naira supply challenge, your government is equally working round the clock to facilitate the
adequate supply of petroleum products to designated filling stations. The result will be seen in the next few days".
Gov. Abiodun who used the medium to introduce the newly posted Commissioner of Police to the state, Mr Frank Mba also pleaded with the security agencies to handle the current situation with utmost professionalism and deeper maturity.
He said the new CP has graciously said that his hotline, 07025000383 should be made available to the residents of the state and could make use of whenever the need arises.
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