The governor of Niger State, Muhammad Umar Bago has declared a three-day public holiday for the distribution of palliatives to the various wards and units across the 25 local government areas of the state.

The three days declared are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week.

The governor announced the development at a press briefing in Minna on the modality adoption for the distribution of the palliatives.

He explained that to ensure proper distribution of the palliatives, civil servants in Niger State would shut down governance for three days in the state.

He also directed all political appointees, including permanent secretaries and local government council chairmen who are members of standing committees set up by the state government, to return to their wards and units for the distribution of palliatives.

Bago, however, warned that anyone caught diverting palliatives meant for the people would be jailed to serve as a deterrent to others.

He further announced that so far, the sum of N2bn with five trucks of rice have already been received from the federal government, while 40 bags of maize and additional N2b are being awaited.

According to him, “The sum of N3.2bn will be disbursed to the 25 LGs as palliatives next Monday, and N5.2bn will be injected into local markets next week to boast economic activities in the state.”