According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 996 metric tons of various grains have been given to Plateau State’s most vulnerable citizens.
NEMA announced this on Monday, May 13, 2024, through its official X Page.
It said that the Plateau State Government would distribute the various food items to the state’s most disadvantaged citizens.
According to NEMA,
“NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar represented by Zonal Director NEMA North Central Bashir Idris Garga, during the presentation of the food items to Governor Caleb Mutfwang stated that this initiative is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to alleviate the impact of high food prices in the country.”
“President Bola Tinubu made this gesture to keep his promise to lessen the effects of the economic downturn.”
“The 996 metric tons of food commodities include maize (7;840 50 kg bags) 374 MT, millet (3230 50 kg bags) 161 MT, and sorghum (8;840 50 kg bags). They were taken out of the National Strategic Reserve in 442 MT.”
“Plateau State has been assigned specific quantities of each commodity, which will be distributed to deserving recipients via local government committees. A percentage of the things will also be donated to religious organizations and boarding schools.”
A few days prior, NEMA tweeted that it had given the Kaduna State Government 1,312 metric tonnes of various food commodities to be distributed to the state’s most needy citizens.
Plateau Governor remarks
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the Plateau was cited by NEMA as saying that he was “grateful for the support and assured equitable distribution to vulnerable citizens.”
The governor went on,
“We are facing challenging times and moments where past mistakes have contributed to the issues we are currently facing.”
“The problems necessitated the implementation of painful policies, which made life unpleasant at the time.”
“While we wait for this year’s bumper harvest, Mr. President has deemed it appropriate to obtain and distribute these items to every state in the federation to address the immediate stomach challenges.”
“I pray that by next year, we won’t need palliative care and will be able to farm enough to ensure food security for our people and eradicate hunger from every Nigerian home.”
Things To Note
As TNC had previously reported, a stampede forced the operation to be stopped when Nigerian customs started selling confiscated bags of rice to citizens at a reduced price.
President Bola Tinubu continued to address the food crisis by ordering the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to release 42,000 metric tons of maize, millet, and other commodities from the national strategic reserves with immediate effect.
The target group consists of those with less privilege who live in each of the country’s 774 Local Government Areas.
The government agency NEMA is responsible for disaster management throughout Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Social Development, Disaster Management, and Humanitarian Affairs oversees it.
As previously reported by the News Chronicles, Mohammed Malagi, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, promised that every state would gain from the distribution during the flag-off event on April 8.
