Bishop Kukah Laments Distribution of Palliatives to Nigerians

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mr Matthew Kukah, has lamented the worrying distribution of palliative to Nigerians in the wake of the biting hardship facing the country.

Recall that the floating of the Naira and the removal of fuel subsidies by the administration of Mr Bola Tinubu have pushed inflation levels to a new high, leading to a hike in the cost of living.

Governments across levels have rolled out palliative measures, including distributing food items to the vulnerable as part of moves to cushion the hardship in the country.

However, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto faulted such moves, saying it is undignifying and governments should map out better plans to tackle the nation’s issues.

Appearing on a Sunday Politics programme interview with Channels Television, Mr Kukah said the federal government should take a more dignifying approach when sharing the items, adding that Nigerians are not looking for handouts.

“We need to see a much more robust programme designed by the government to help us go away from just lining up and collecting palliative when we are not at war,” the cleric said.

“I think it is the height of indignity to see Nigerians lining up every day under the sun and waiting to collect bags of rice which probably never come not because money has not been given but because everybody who gives out money in Nigeria from the Federal Government knows that a good part of this money is always stolen. Nigerians are not looking for handouts,” he added.

The man of God also suggested that the federal government should tackle insecurity to fix the situation, saying, “Ordinary farmers just want to go back to their farms. People just want to be able to get back to their lives. Ending insecurity is the beginning of this healing and a decisive programme and plan to end is the beginning of the healing.”