The federal government Tuesday said the distribution of 42,000 metric tons of assorted grains across the country has commenced.
It also said arrangements were almost concluded to release additional 58,500 metric tons of milled rice from mega rice millers into the markets, for optimum stabilization.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari said this during an engagement with the National Assembly through its joint Committee on Agriculture Production Services and Rural Development.
The engagement was part of measures to get a feedback on the mechanisms employed by the federal government on way out of the national food crisis, resulting from inflation bedeviling the country.
The committee, chaired by Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC Kwara Central), at an interface with the minister, interrogated the federal government’s plans to arrest high cost of food prices in the country and making it affordable and available to the poor masses.
Responding to the lawmakers’ inquiry, the minister said the federal government had commenced distribution of 42,000 metric tons of grains to some focal points of state capitals nationwide.
He said: “We have received directive and approval from Mr. President to distribute for immediate impact 42,000 metric tons of assorted grains free of charge to the Nigerian population.
“This was received (in) mid-February. As we are speaking, we have a record of the distribution being carried out, but I will want to plead with the Honorable House and distinguished senators that some of the movements can’t be made public. But a lot of states have started receiving their grains.
“We are distributing to state capitals in the first instance, as you all are aware of the risk involved in the vandalisation of foodstuff. So, we are working with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other national security agencies.
“Furthermore, 58,500 metric tons of milled rice from mega rice millers will also be released into the market for stabilization”, he said.
The minister also said that actions being taken became necessary in order to cushion the impacts of hardship on Nigerians which he said, would soon become a thing of the past .
For security purposes , he informed the committee members that the ministry in conjunction with the ONSA and other national security outfits to address issues on vandalisation of food warehouses across the country.
Speaking to newsmen after the interactive session, the committee chairman, Senator Mustapha, expressed satisfaction with steps do far taken by the federal government.
He said : “From our interactive session. we on the other side of the parliament, we are fully in the picture of what is happening, we are convinced that the step being taken by the federal government is in the right direction.
“All we did again is to further emphasize on the need for certain things to be done on time, I think from this collaborative approach, by the grace of God, Nigerians will have a better feel of the government policy on food security.”
