There is disquiet over allegations of diversion of palliatives sent to Taraba State by the federal government to cushion the effects of the prevailing hard times.
Daily Trust Saturday gathered that the items provided to the state by the federal government comprised bags of rice, maize, guinea corn and fertilisers.
Findings revealed that some assorted grains were allegedly diverted and sold in the markets while other items were also alleged to have been sold to dealers from neighbouring states.
Daily Trust Saturday also learnt that some of the items, especially maize, were being sold at the Jalingo main market.
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It was further gathered that the federal government’s palliative, which is old stock, is sold at N1,400 per measure, while that from farmers, which is fresh, is sold at N1,800 per measure.
Daily Trust Saturday’s findings revealed that the palliative was first allocated by the state government to the 16 local government councils for distribution to people at the grassroots.
It was, however, alleged that some of the items being sold in the market were from the consignment allocated to the local government councils.
An official of the state Ministry for Humanitarian Services, who would not like to be mentioned, said the ministry has heard the allegations of diversion but did not give more details.
The chairman of Jalingo LGA, Alhaji Hassan Aminu Jauro, who is also chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Taraba State, said the allegation was false.
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