President Bola Tinubu has addressed the delay in the distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains promised by the federal government to ease the current economic strain on Nigerians.
According to Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, the grains are currently being bagged in seven strategic locations, causing the delay as the bags were freshly ordered.
Onanuga assured that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is overseeing the process, emphasizing that the grain bags are free of charge. Additionally, the government plans to provide 60,000 metric tonnes of rice to support the vulnerable population.
Onanuga said:
“The Tinubu administration through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to support the vulnerable population across the country,” Onanuga said in the statement on Friday.
“The grains in seven locations of strategic reserve, are now being bagged for onward delivery to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The need to bag the grains, caused the delay as the bags were freshly ordered by the government.
“Nigerians will not need to pay for the grain bags, as they are free. This will be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice Millers.
“Already, with the announcement of the impending releases of food commodities from the Strategic Reserve, there is a noticeable reduction in commodity prices across major grains markets in the country, Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari.”
