Just In : Federal Govt to distribute grains nationwide free of charge to Nigerians
The Federal Government, on Wednesday, announced that it would distribute the 42,000 metric tonnes of grains approved by President Bola Tinubu to poor Nigerians at no cost.
FG disclosed that the Department of State Services and the National Emergency Management Agency had been engaged in the distribution process of the 42,000MT of grains approved by Tinubu in order to ensure that the commodities get to the targeted citizens nationwide.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, made this known at a ministerial press briefing in Abuja.
He said, the government would be supporting 500,000 farmers to cultivate and produce one million metric tonnes of rice.
He noted that this would increase Nigeria’s rice production from the current seven/eight million tonnes annually to a new level, adding that the government would offtake the 60,000 metric tonnes of rice being produced by millers.
Kyari also revealed that 15 state governors had expressed interest to participate fully in this year’s dry season farming, adding that this would help in ameliorating the food crisis being experienced in Nigeria.
On February 8, 2024, President Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to release about 42,000MT of maize, millet and other commodities from the national strategic reserves in order to address the rising cost of food in Nigeria.
Providing explanation on how the 42,000MT grains would be distributed at the press briefing on Wednesday, the Agric minister said it would go to poor Nigerians for free.
Kyari said, “This 42,000MT is going to the needy free of charge. It will be directly to the needy at no cost.”
Speaking on the needy intervention plan, Kyari replied, “We’ve met with NEMA and DSS to give us the index. These are where to gather intelligence report on where it is needed the most. And we are going to look at those indices.”
The agric minister insisted that the government would ensure that only those who have need of the grains benefit from the exercise, adding that state governors had been put on notice about this development.
Kyari noted that 53,000MT grains were in various reserves across the country, but stated that the government would release 42,000MT, while the remaining 11,000MT would be left for emergency purposes.
He explained that about 1,200 trucks would be filled with the 42,000MT grains, adding that it would be distributed in all states, and urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the government.
“The government is working hard to address the challenges in the agricultural sector and will make sure that the grains get to those who really need them,” the minister added.
