By Daniel Tyokua
The federal government has distributed maize, sorghum and garri to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to cushion effect of hardship .
During the official flag off ceremony of the food items to the residents of the territory on Thursday, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, acknowledged that the FCT Administration has taken delivery of 23,996 bags of 25 kg rice from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
She also said that an additional consignment of 20,660 bags consisting of 4,680 bags of maize, 13,920 bags of sorghum, 960 bags of garri and 1100 bags of millet has been received.
Mahmoud who commended the gesture of the federal government however noted that the gesture would no doubt go a long way to alleviating the burden of food scarcity and high cost of food items on Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable who are worst affected by the situation.
Recall that that price of food stuff in the FCT just like in other parts of the country have skyrocketed and residents are complaining and grumbling.
The palliative measure will therefore go a long way for the beneficiaries.
To ensure seamless distribution exercise, the minister assured that: “I have instructed the relevant Secretariat, Departments, and Agencies, SDAs to put in place the necessary security measures to avert the ugly incidence of the past when miscreants hijack the products.”
She, however, appealed with all residents to conduct themselves in a responsible and orderly manner, and cooperate fully with the distribution teams, so that the administration could achieve success.
She further said: “We are also not oblivious of the fact that for any meaningful development to be sustained, due attention must be placed on the welfare of our citizens.
“To achieve this, we have placed priority on re-invigorating the agricultural sector, which is crucial to achieving our collective quest for food and nutrition security.
“We will continue to work assiduously to create a safe, secure, and enabling environment that fosters agricultural investments, ensuring that no resident of the FCT goes hungry.”
In his remarks, the Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, ARDS, Lawan Kolo Geidam, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his visionary leadership and foresight in addressing the rising cost of food staples and making this critical intervention possible.
Geidam revealed that the secretariat has perfected plans with the area council authorities to develop a meticulous distribution plan that would ensure an efficient exercise, making sure that the food items reach the targeted groups.
The identified groups according to him include the six area councils, Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), Faith Based Organisations (JNI & CAN), and the 17 graded chiefs.
Others include Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), All the widows groups in FCT, All the orphanages in FCT, groups of persons with disabilities in the FCT, Leprosy colony residents, Bwari rehabilitation home, Wako Orphanage and IDP camps.
He further stated that the secretariat has mobilised over 1,000 vulnerable individuals who would each receive a direct allocation of food items.
Geidam added that the secretariat will follow-up this exercise by delivering the items to the area councils, ensuring that the items reach the most vulnerable members of the community.
