High Food Prices: Promised 42,000 Metric Tons Of Grains Ready For Distribution Soon-FG

The Presidency disclosed on Friday that the 42,000 metric tons of grains that the federal government had promised to make available to Nigerians two weeks ago will soon be distributed to the beneficiaries.

The FG has also submitted that 60,000 metric tons of grains would   be purchased from the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser  on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement he issued on  Friday night titled, ‘Update on Tinubu administration’s efforts to ramp up food supply in the country’.

Recall that sequel to high food prices in the country, President Bola Tinubu, had  on February 8, ordered the immediate release of 102,000 metric tons of various grain types from the Strategic Reserve and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria.

‘The Tinubu administration through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tons of assorted food commodities to support the vulnerable population across the country.

The grains in seven locations of strategic reserve are now being bagged for onward delivery to the National Emergency Management Agency’ he said 

 The statement also explained reasons why the promised grains have not being made available since two weeks ago.

‘The need to bag the grains, caused the delay as the bags were freshly ordered by 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’ he added.

Citing statements made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari, the presidency  noted that  with the announcement of plans to release food commodities from the Strategic Reserve, there  has been  noticeable reduction in commodity prices in the country.

‘There are fantastic reports of the growth of wheat from Jigawa state, which is now targeting harvest from about 50,000 hectares, 10,000 hectares more than initially allotted under the programme’ the presidency submitted while noting that  the Phase 2 of the Dry Season Farming will commence soon, across all 36 states and the FCT.

‘It will cover rice, maize, and cassava. For rice, the target is 250,000 hectares involving 500,000 farmers with the expected output of 1 million metric tons of paddy rice.

For maize, we are cultivating 55,000 hectares with 110,000 farmers thereby adding 165,000 metric tons to national maize production while for cassava, we are doing 35,000 hectares with 70,000 farmers to produce 525,000 metric tons of cassava’ the statement said- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you