Gombe State Government
The Gombe State Government is compelled to respond to a recent statement made by the Hon. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, regarding the distribution RI WUXFNV RI WKH )HGHUDO *RYHUQPHQW¶V ULFH DOORFDWLRQ LQ ZKLFK KH VSHFL¿FDOO\ PHQWLRQHG Gombe State during a media interview.
,W LV QRW RXU ZLVK WR HQJDJH LQ D PHGLD H[FKDQJH ZLWK WKH +RQ 0LQLVWHU RI ,QIRUPDWLRQ KRZHYHU ZH ¿QG it necessary to reiterate that, contrary to his assertion, Gombe State has not yet received the delivery of the said 20 trucks of rice allocated by the Federal Government in July, 2024.
We understand that the Minister’s statement was in response to the recent remarks by His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya during a stakeholder engagement with civil society organizations and organised labour prior to the planned August protests. During that meeting, the Governor addressed concerns about the Federal Government’s rice distribution, where he noted that while an allocation had been announced by the Minister of Information on July 15, 2024, the state had not yet received the said rice. The Governor, however, assured stakeholders and the people of the state that distribution would begin as soon as the rice was delivered.
We are aware that Gombe State is not alone in this situation, as similar reports have emerged from other states, including neighbouring Adamawa, Yobe and Taraba. Therefore, it is surprising that the Hon. Minister chose to single out Gombe State in his media response, overlooking the broader context.
We recognize the challenges of logistics and distribution in this current situation and remain optimistic that necessary arrangements will be made to ensure that this relief commodity is delivered to us.
Gombe State Government remains grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for his relentless support and efforts to address the economic challenges facing the nation. We also appreciate Mr. President for the various interventions extended to us, including provision of fertilizers and assorted food items in this challenging period.
Gombe State Government remains committed to transparency and open communication at all times. The Hon. Minister of Information and any other persons have access to proper channels to verify the status of the rice delivery to Gombe, rather than disseminating information that holds the potential of creating a negative impression on the minds of the people.
Ismaila Uba Misilli
Director-General
(Press Affairs) Government House
Gombe