House of Representatives, on Thursday, urged the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Agricultural Production and Food Security, Finance, Labour Employment and Productivity, and their relevant agencies to always give special consideration to the Nigerian land border communities in the allocation and distribution of Government palliatives.
This followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Need to give Consideration in the Provision of Palliative to Citizens in Nigeria Border Communities” sponsored Hon. Adegboyega Nasir Isiaka at the Plenary session presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
The House said that the idea was to cushion the effects of high cost of fuel and resultant inflationary effects.
The House said it was aware that a resolution was passed on 11 July, 2023, urging the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Customs Service to lift the ban on petroleum products moving 20 km to and from the border.
The House said it was also aware that the resolution is yet to be implemented by the Nigerian Customs Service for unspecified reasons.
The House worried that this has continued to cause untold hardship for those living within 20 kilometers of the Nigerian land border of approximately 4,050 kilometers.
It said while the dwellers of the urban and semi-urban communities in Nigeria currently buy PMS at N1,200 per litre, the effective cost per litre to residents and small-scale businesses in the border communities is close to N2,000 per litre.
This, it said, is in addition to the other deprivations to the highly vulnerable people in the periphery of the country, notably poor infrastructural and social amenities.
The House also worried that the situation could get worse if urgent intervention is not taken by the Federal Government to lift the ban on petroleum products moving 20 km to and from the border in the Communities.
When the motion was put into voice vote, it was unanimously supported.
The House directed the Committees on Poverty Alleviation, Agricultural Production and Services, Finance, Labour Employment, and Productivity to ensure compliance and report within four weeks for further legislative action.
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