Rivers state government has inaugurated a 40-man committee to ensure even distribution of the food palliatives being distributed to ease off the harsh effect of the subsidy removal policy.

The committee which has the former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Desmond Akawor as chairman has already received 16,800 50kg bags of rice to be distributed to the most vulnerable people in the 23 local government areas of the state.

Ambassador Akawor who is also the Rivers state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, disclosed that the rice would be distributed according to ward structure with each of the 319 wards in the state taking delivery of fifty bags of rice each.

According to him, the over 16,000 bags of rice were made available by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, adding that some undisclosed bags of maize were still being expected to ameliorate the hardship being experienced by some indigent citizens.

Akawor said though he is the state chairman of the PDP, the distribution process would not be politicized.

“This has nothing to do with politics. It is not for any particular political party. What has been brought is for Rivers people. After this rice, we are going to receive some bags of maize. The number of bags has not been specified”.