President Bola Tinubu has instructed the emergency distribution of grains to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to mitigate the effects of the prevailing economic challenges across Nigeria. The directive, conveyed via a memo addressed to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, mandates the establishment of a strategic committee to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of the grains to vulnerable Nigerians through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
This decision follows recent incidents, including the looting of grains stored in an FCT Agriculture Secretariat warehouse by residents of Gwagwa-Tasha, citing hunger. In response, the FCT Administration swiftly constituted a committee, chaired by FCT Minister of State Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, to expedite the distribution of the palliatives.
During a stakeholders meeting, Mahmoud emphasized the urgency of the presidential directive and warned against any actions that could undermine its implementation. The committee, consisting of various stakeholders, has less than two weeks to execute the mandate.
Mahmoud announced plans to distribute 4,680 bags of maize, 1,100 bags of millets, 13,920 bags of sorghum, and 960 bags of garri to vulnerable groups across the six area councils of the FCT. She also allocated a portion of the grains to faith-based organizations and boarding schools, as directed by the presidency, stressing the importance of ensuring the items reach the intended beneficiaries.
Additionally, Mahmoud directed the Mandate Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat to secure a warehouse within 72 hours for the safe storage of the grains.
The emergency distribution of grains underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, particularly vulnerable groups in the FCT. As the committee works to implement the directive, its efforts aim to provide much-needed relief to those affected by the prevailing economic challenges in the country.