President Bola Tinubu has given reasons behind the delay of the free distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains to Nigerians to tackle the current food insecurity.
Recall that the Minister of Agriculture on February 8,
promised that the federal government would distribute millet, maize and other
food commodities to vulnerable Nigerians to ameliorate hardship.
But for almost three weeks, no grains or food commodities
have been given to Nigerians as the economy bites hard with the high cost of
food.
Explaining the delay, Special Adviser to the President
Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said the bagging of grains is
ongoing in seven strategic places in the country.
Onanuga also said the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) has been in charge of bagging the grains that would soon be delivered to
indigent Nigerians.
He said this in a statement issued on Friday, reiterating
the assurance that Nigerians will soon receive free gains.
The presidential aide also said that 60,000 metric tonnes of
rice will be provided by the federal government to give to Nigerians.
“The Tinubu administration through the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric
tonnes of assorted food commodities to support the vulnerable population across
the country,” Onanuga said in the statement.
“The grains in seven locations of strategic reserve, are now
being bagged for onward delivery to the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA). The need to bag the grains, caused the delay as the bags were freshly
ordered by the government.
“Nigerians will not need to pay for the grain bags, as they
are free.
“This will be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes of
milled rice to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice
Millers.
“Already, with the
announcement of the impending releases of food commodities from the Strategic
Reserve, there is a noticeable reduction in commodity prices across major
grains markets in the country, Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar
Kyari.”
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