The Benue State Government has revealed that it has received 2 billion Naira from the state government as part of the 5 billion Naira approved for states as fuel subsidy palliative.
The governor also unveiled plans for the disbursement of the funds.
This was revealed by the state governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, during the flag off of the distribution of relief materials to victims of the 2022 flood in Makurdi.
He said the next payment of the palliatives will mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.
He said the state government would use the funds to register students of government secondary schools for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations for the 2023/2024 academic year.
Alia added that the fund will be deployed to provide intensive computer and ICT training for 2000 youths of the state to enable them acquire jobs within and outside the state.
He also revealed that 5,000 women in the state will receive grants under the revised social register of the women cooperatives.
100 new buses would be purchased for the state-owned transport company, Benue Links, to provide services to the people of the state at a subsidised rate.
In the same vein, he said the palliatives will be used to provide shuttle buses in the three major towns of Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo to ease movement within the towns.
He added that the money will also be used to pay one month pension arrears to state and local government retirees.
He said food items like rice would be provided in large quantities to each of the 23 local government areas in the state, among other things.