In a bid to address the soaring cost of food items and alleviate hardship among Nigerians, the federal government has commenced the distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains across the country.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, during an interactive session with the National Assembly joint committee on Agriculture Production Services and Rural Development on Tuesday.
Chaired by Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC – Kwara Central), the committee had sought insights from the Minister on the government’s strategies to tackle the high cost of food items and ensure affordability for citizens.
In response, Minister Kyari revealed that President Bola Tinubu had directed and approved the distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains. He emphasized the government’s commitment to providing immediate relief to the Nigerian population, free of charge.
Kyari stated, “We have received directive and approval from Mr. President to distribute for immediate impact 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains free of charge to the Nigerian population.”
He further elaborated on the distribution process, highlighting the need for discretion due to security concerns. Kyari assured that distribution was underway to state capitals, with measures in place to safeguard against vandalism of food supplies, in collaboration with national security agencies.
Moreover, the Minister announced the release of 58,500 metric tonnes of milled rice from mega rice millers into the market to stabilize prices.
The initiative underscores the government’s determination to mitigate the hardships faced by Nigerians, with Minister Kyari expressing confidence that these measures would soon yield positive outcomes.
As the distribution progresses, attention remains focused on the impact of these interventions in alleviating food insecurity and improving the well-being of citizens nationwide.
