FG to commence distribution of 42,000mt of grains next week

The Federal Government plans to commence the distribution of the 42,000mt of grains recently released from the silos next week.

Niger State Governor Umar Bago disclosed this after a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja ahead of the commissioning of the mechanisation program by the President in the state.

He said the distribution of the grains will be flagged off in the state as the state will be used as a pilot state in the north Central so that the distribution can commence in earnest.

He further disclosed that as part of their support to the people the state has further acquired 120,000 trucks of grains including rice, beans, millet, sorghum, and soyabeans among others to be distributed freely.

He said, “We have vouched to march there dollar to a dollar, if the federal government is giving us N100million we will also give a 100million. We will continue to farm and we are doing lots of sensitization for our farmers to go back to agriculture including aquaculture, livestock among others.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari stated that 42,000mt Sorghum, millet, maize and gaari will be distributed across the country.

He further disclosed that the second phase of the dry season farming would also be flagged off next week in Niger state, before extending the commencement to other state.

On the number of people to benefit from the distribution of the free grains, the Minister said the template for the distribution is with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the office of the National Security Adviser as they intend to start distribution from the local government areas then the state before getting to the federal.

On how to mitigate against hijack of the grains he said the office of the NSA is heavily involved in the distribution including security agencies, the police, civil defence, armed forces among others.

To ensure transparency, the minister assured that the operation will be very robust as the media, CSOs, religious groups, workers Union will all over see the distribution.

“I can assure you that it is going to be very transparent. When the template tis concluded we are going to declare to everybody where, what and how the distribution will go. Those issue will be addressed. I know alot of people are worried about what has happened in the past. But we will set up a template for everyone to see,” he stated.