The Federal Government has started the distribution of 40,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable Nigerians to cushion the effects of rising prices of food items.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, said this at the official distribution of the assorted food commodities to the vulnerable populace in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking at the distribution of the grains at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Karmajiji, Abuja, Abubakar said it would help many households who were in dire need of food assistance.
“These will help people, especially in this festive period of Easter, Ramadan, and Sallah. This administration is very concerned about what is happening in the country,’’ he said.
The minister said that the incessant banditry attacks had displaced many farming communities in some states, disrupted their sources of livelihood, and rendered them homeless.
He said that some of the displaced persons were currently taking shelter around the schools, mosques, and churches.
“Many of these households are in dire need of food assistance to ameliorate their sufferings as they are facing untold hardship and food supply. Also, the high prices of maize in the open market have affected the cost of production of poultry feeds,” he said
And, consequently, the availability of the products thereby threatening the poultry industry which has been a major employer of labour for decades.
“Furthermore, with the rising prices of food items across the country, which has been attributed to insecurity, high fuel prices, the purchasing power of the public servants has been eroded making food inaccessibility difficult and challenging,” he said.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of the food items as part of the Federal Government’s effort to ensure food security and alleviate poverty in the country.
He said that the distribution of the food items would be replicated in all the states of the federation.
The District Head of Karmajiji, Alhaji Yunusa Abdullahi, commended the Federal Government for the distribution of the food items to the IDPs.
The minister also performed a similar exercise at the Ministry of Women Affairs, saying the assorted food commodities would also be distributed to women in the states.
A representative of the Catholic Women Organisation, Abuja, Archdiocese, Mrs. Ebele Okoye, said the event was a blessing to the women.
“ This occasion shows that women are recognized, not just women but vulnerable women among us and it also shows we have leaders who are human like us,’’ she said.
Mrs. Fatima Ndako, Deputy President, Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria, also said the event was timely.