Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, yesterday, deplored the Federal Government’s palliatives to residents of Enugu State, stressing: “Five people per 20kg of rice is insulting and cannot ameliorate hunger created by removal of fuel subsidy.”

Chukwuma further expressed disappointment that council chairmen in the state were depleting even the 200 bags approved for each ward by the state government committee handling the distribution.

Speaking to journalists in Enugu, Chukwuma called on the federal and state governments to review the trend in the interest of the masses.

Bishop Chukwuma said: “Having seen some of the bags of rice called palliatives for the people of Enugu, I feel dejected and disappointed that that the local government chairmen withdrew five bags from the 200 bags for each ward.

“How do you expect this type of palliative to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal?  So, we are feeling that the Federal Government’s palliative for Nigerians is insulting, disgraceful and a failure. It is fraud and we completely reject it.”