Hardship: Abiodun pledges relief, rice at 50% discount

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said that his administration would immediately begin the sale of rice to members of the public statewide at half price of the commodity to cushion the prevalent economic hardship among the populace.

He also said that the sale of the commodity would begin with public servants across the board, adding that it is the aspiration of his administration to return the purchasing power of public servants.

Abiodun, who gave the promise during the special Iftar (breaking of fast) organised for the League of Imams and Alfas in the state at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, on Tuesday evening, said: “We have decided to start the sale of rice. We will be selling at the rate of 50 per cent of the actual price.

“We are going to commence with our civil servants. All our public servants across the board will buy rice at half the price.

“What we are trying to do is to put them in the position they were before the inflation. The purchasing power that they seem to have lost because of inflation, we are putting them back in that position.”

The governor said that a committee had been set up to oversee the sale of the commodity to residents of the state, adding that selling at 50 per cent discount would avail his administration to continue to buy more to be sold to the people.

He further said: “We want to sustain this. If we say we want to be giving it to people as a gift, very soon, we won’t be able to sustain it. But if we sell at the price it was sold before it becomes expensive, it will allow us to use the money to buy more and continue to sell.

“For those we know cannot afford to buy, those we call the poor, the elderly and the vulnerable, we will be giving them the rice free of charge.”

Abiodun, therefore, urged Muslim faithful to continue to live a holy life even after the fasting period, adding that they should endeavour to continue to pray not just for themselves, but also for the state and the country as a whole.

He, however, said that he would fulfil his promise to build a befitting secretariat for the League of Imams and Alfas, adding that the secretariat, when completed, would become the envy of other states.

Earlier, Secretary of the League of Imams and Alfas, Tajudeen Adewunmi, commended the governor for empowering eight Muslim youths monthly.

Meanwhile, special prayers were offered for the 72nd birthday celebration of President Bola Tinubu billed for March 29, 2024, as the governor was also conferred with the title of Ambassador of Peace in Islam at the event.