The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains to Zamfara to address the current economic downturn in Nigeria.
During the presentation of the items to Governor Dauda Lawal in Gusau on Monday, NEMA’s Director-General, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, represented by Dr. Ishaya Chinoko, Zonal Director for North West States, explained that the donation aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
The food items, which were released from the National Strategic Reserve under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, include maize, millet, sorghum, and garri.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the Zamfara government for distribution to deserving beneficiaries in the communities through committees established in each of the 14 Local Government Areas of the state,” said Chinoko.
The food items for Zamfara include 6,160 50-kg bags of maize, 12,040 50-kg bags of sorghum, and 2,520 50-kg bags of millet. These items will be distributed equally among the 14 Local Government Areas.
According to the directives of President Tinubu, 20% of the food items allocated to each Local Government Area should go to religious organizations (Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)), and 3% should be given to boarding schools.
The distribution committee comprises local council chairmen, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), traditional rulers, and representatives from various security agencies, faith-based organizations, the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, women’s associations, disability groups, youth associations, school principals, civil society organizations, and the media.
Governor Lawal expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for the assistance, particularly for supporting vulnerable households and victims of banditry.
“I am giving assurance that the state government under my watch will ensure judicious distribution of the items to all targeted beneficiaries.”
He assured that his administration would ensure the items are distributed fairly to all targeted beneficiaries and warned recipients not to sell the food items, emphasizing that they are intended for household consumption only.
“I want warn those to benefit from this items to avoid selling it them. These items are for your households’ consumption and not to be sold.”
