By Sarah NEGEDU
The federal government on Thursday, began the distribution of food items to residents of the Federal Capital Territory as part of efforts to address the biting food shortages and its attendant increase in food prices.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, who officially flagged-off the distribution of food items in Gwagwalada, said the gesture will also bring relief and succour to Nigerians in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
She disclosed that the federal government released 33,576 bags of assorted food items to the FCT comprising 23,996 bags of 25 kg rice. The administration also took delivery of additional 4680 bags of maize, 13,920 bags of sorghum, 960 bags of garri and 1100 bags of millet.
To ensure a seamless distribution exercise, the minister assured that; “I have instructed the relevant Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies to put in place the necessary security measures to avert the ugly incidence of the past when miscreants hijack the products”.
She, therefore appealed to all residents to conduct themselves in a responsible and orderly manner, and cooperate fully with the distribution teams, so that the administration could achieve resounding 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”.
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, who handed over the food items to the FCT Administration, recounted that the president had approved the release of 42,000MT of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve under the custody of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
She said the president had directed that 20percent of the food items due for each Area Council should be given to religious organizations (JNI & CAN) while 3percent be given to boarding schools in the Area Council.
The DG also used the opportunity to raise awareness on the 2024 predicted flood which she lamented has become a recurring experience in Nigeria.
“After the 2018 devastating flood, a similar one occurred in 2022 leading to a declaration of disaster emergency in many states. Though climate change has been largely blamed for this increasing phenomenon, it is our responsibility as government and people to evolve strategies to minimize losses through adherence to warning alerts, early preparation and proper response.”
In his remarks, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Hon. Lawan Geidam, commended President Bola Tinubu, for making the intervention possible.
Geidam revealed that the secretariat has perfected plans with the area council authorities to develop a distribution plan that would ensure an efficient exercise, making sure that the food items reach the targeted groups.
The groups according to him include the six area councils, Joint Union Action Committee, Faith Based Organisations (JNI & CAN), and the 17 Graded Chiefs. Others include Civil Society Organisations, All the widow groups in FCT, All the orphanages in FCT, Groups with Disabilities in FCT, Leprosy colonies, Bwari rehabilitation home, Wako Orphanage and IDP camps.
He further stated that the secretariat has mobilized over 1,000 vulnerable individuals who would each receive a direct allocation of food items.
