The Presidency is yet to start the distribution of free grains to Nigerians because of the ongoing bagging of the commodities in seven locations within the country.
The Minister of Agriculture on February 8, said the federal government would distribute 42,000 metric tonnes of millet, maize and other food commodities to vulnerable Nigerians to ameliorate hardship.
Three weeks after, no grains or food commodities have been given to Nigerians as the hardship bites harder with the high cost of food.
Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga who disclosed this on Friday, said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is currently handling the bagging of the grains.
Onanuga said 60,000 metric tonnes of rice will be provided by the Federal Government to give to Nigerians.
“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.
“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 has said.
