Nigeria To Begin Distribution Of 42,000 Tonnes Of Grains Next Week

The Nigerian government has announced that the distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains, recently released from silos for vulnerable Nigerians, will begin next week in Niger State, North-Central Nigeria.

Niger State Governor Umar Bago disclosed this in Abuja after a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari ahead of the commissioning of the mechanisation programme by the President in his state.

Mr. Bago said the distribution of the grains will be flagged off in Niger as the state will be used as the pilot state in the North Central.

He stated that the state has further acquired 120,000 trucks of grains including rice, beans, millet, sorghum, soybeans among others to be distributed freely as part of their support to the people in the state.

“We have vouched to march them dollar to dollar, if the federal government is giving us N100 million we will also give a 100 million. We will continue to farm and we are doing lots of sensitisation for our farmers to go back to agriculture including aquaculture, livestock among others,’ the Governor said.

On his part, Kyari stated that 42,000 metric tonnes of sorghum, millet, maize and garri will be distributed across the country.

Speaking on the mode of distribution, the Minister said the template for the distribution is with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) as they intend to start distribution from the local government areas then the state before getting to the federal.

He further said that the office of the NSA is heavily involved in the distribution including the security agencies, the police, civil defence, armed forces among others.

To ensure transparency, the Minister promised that the operation would be very robust as the media, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), religious groups, workers Union will all oversee the distribution.

Kyari said; “I can assure you that it is going to be very transparent. When the template is concluded we are going to declare to everybody where, what and how the distribution will go.

“Those issues will be addressed. I know a lot of people are worried about what has happened in the past. But we will set up a template for everyone to see.”

The Minister further disclosed that the second phase of the dry season farming would also be flagged off next week in Niger state, before extending the commencement to other states.

The Nigerian Government on February 14 announced its plans to immediately release 42, 000 metric tonnes of grains from strategic grain reserves which would be distributed for free nationwide to the needy and vulnerable.

Mercy Chukwudiebere