By Adelola Amihere
In other to alleviate the sufferings of vulnerable Nigerians as a result the lockdown of some states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) aimed at curtailing the spread of the Corona virus, President Muhammadu Buhari has granted approval to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to release 70,000 Metric Tons of assorted food items from the National Strategic Food Reserve stock.
A statement by the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Theodore Ogazichi, the Minister, Alhaji Muhammed Nanono in compliance with the presidential directive stated that of the 70,000 Metric tons, 5,000 Metric tons of gari is readily available for immediate release while bagging of the food grains is on going for further urgent release which is to be carried out through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
A break down of the food items to be released from the National Strategic Food Reserve Silo Complexes include 10,000MT’s of Maize and 2,500MT of Gari from Minna Silo, Niger State, 5,000MT’s of Millet and 1,500MT’s of Gari from Lafia Silo, -Nassarawa State, 12,500MT of Maize and 5,000MT of Sorghum from Dustin-ma Silo, Katsina State.
Others are 12,500MT Maize and 5,000MT of Sorghum Yola Silo, Adamawa, 15,000MT of Sorghum from Gusau Silo, Zamfara State and 1,000MT of Gari from ilesha Silo, Osun State.
The Minister promised that measures will be put in place by the Presidential Task Force to ensure that the food items get to the actual beneficiaries.
