Food insecurity: FG distributes 44,656 bags of assorted food items to FCT residents
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Government has released 44,656 bags of assorted food items as palliatives for the vulnerable residents in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud who received the food items at Gwagwalada Area Council ,on Thursday from the National Emergency Management Agency at the flag-off of the food items said that the palliative is to relieve the present t biting food insecurity and to bring succor to residents in the territory in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
According to Mahmoud, the administration has received a delivery of 23,996 bags of 25 kg rice from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
She said that an additional consignment of 20, 660 bags of maize, 13,920 bags of sorghum, 960 bags of garri and 1,00 bags of millet have been received from NEMA.
The Minister of State, ” The Federal Government’s gesture would no doubt go a long way to alleviate the burden of food scarcity and high cost of food items on Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable who are worst affected by the situation.”
She gave assurance that there will be seamless distribution of the food items.
She said, “I have instructed the relevant Secretariat, Departments, and Agencies, SDAs, to put in place the necessary security measures to avert the ugly incidence of the past when miscreants hijack the products.”
However, she appealed to all residents to fully cooperate with the distribution teams so that the administration could achieve a resounding success.
She noted that for the administration to maintain a sustainable development, it must pay attention to the welfare of the people, and this can only be achieved by reinvigorating the agricultural sector.
To achieve this, we have placed priority on re-invigorating the agricultural sector, which is crucial to achieving our collective quest for food and nutrition security, she disclosed.
She further reiterated the Administration’s resolve to ensure the welfare of citizens.
The Mandate Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ibrahim Aminu Mesari who commended the government for the gesture, said that in compliance with Mr. President’s directive.
Mesari who gave an assurance of a seamless distribution of the items said, ” the secretariat has perfected plans with the area council authorities to develop a meticulous distribution plan that would ensure an efficient exercise, making sure that the food items reach the targeted groups.”
He further stated that the secretariat has mobilized over 1,000 vulnerable individuals who would each receive a direct allocation of food items.
Geidam added that the secretariat will follow up this exercise by delivering the items to the Area Councils, ensuring that the items reached the most vulnerable members of the community.
The Director General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, said that the assorted food commodities from NEMA include maize, millet, sorghum, and garri.
Umar stated that the distribution of the palliative is to reduce the impact of the current hash economic hardship experienced by the people.
” In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, President a Tinubu approved the release of 42,000MT of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve under the custody of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.”
She emphasized that the hand-over of some food items to the minister of state is to ensure distribution to identified beneficiaries in communities in each Area CounciI.
