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Tag: grains

  • FG begins distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains

    FG begins distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains

    • …keep storage centres under wraps

    The federal government has begun the distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains nationwide as recently directed by President Bola Tinubu to curb rising good prices.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed during an interactive session with the National Assembly joint committee on Agriculture Production Services and Rural Development, on Tuesday.

    The committee chaired by Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC -Kwara Central), had interrogated the Minister on plans by the federal government to curb the high cost of food items in the country and make it affordable and available to the poor and vulnerable in the country.

    Kyari, in his response, said the federal government has commenced distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains to some focal points in state capitals across the country.

    He said: “We have received directive and approval from Mr. President to distribute for immediate impact 42,000 metric tonnes 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 Members 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.”

    Read Also: Distribution of 42,000MT of grains ongoing, says Fed Govt

    He said that the action of the Federal Government had become imperative to cushion the impacts of hardship on Nigerians which he said, will soon become a thing of the past.

    He told the joint committee that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is currently working with the office of the National Security Adviser, and other national security outfits to address issues of vandalisation of food warehouses across the country.

    The chairman of the joint committee, Senator Saliu Mustapha, while answering questions from reporters after the session, expressed satisfaction with the steps being taken by the Federal Government to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.

    He said: “From our interactive session, we are fully in the picture of what is happening, we are convinced that the steps being taken by the federal government are in the right direction.

    “All we did again is to further emphasise 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.”

  • Fed Govt targets 31m metric tonnes of grains in 2024

    Fed Govt targets 31m metric tonnes of grains in 2024

    The Federal government is targeting 31 million metric tonnes of grains next year.

    The aim is to combat food inflation, create jobs, reduce poverty and respond to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergency on food security. 

    Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated this in Abuja at the opening of the Sixth Seed Connect Conference and Exhibition.

    Its theme is: “Global declaration of food emergency – the role of the seed industry and ensuring Africa’s food and nutrition security.”

    Abdullahi said the ministry has outlined a series of critical pathways to solve the food security challenges.

    These pathways, he said, are streamlined into short-term, intermediate and long-term actions.

    He added that the farmers are being supported with quality seeds for rice, maize, soybean and other inputs at a subsidised rate.

    The minister said the National Agricultural Development Fund will support production and critical agricultural infrastructure and provide financial leverage for farmers.

    Read Also: Tinubu committed to fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, says Shettima

    According to him, the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) would be refocused to increase sensitisation, surveillance and enforcement of its laws toward curbing infiltration of uncertified seeds that rob farmers of their value for money.

    He added that the NASC will be empowered to carry out its mandate through strategic reforms and budgeting attached to KPIs which is in line with the goal of the administration.

    Acting Director General, NASC, Dr. Ishiak Khalid, said: “This year’s event has been dedicated to the global declaration of food emergency and the role of Africa’s seed sector in creating a sustainable food system to ensure access to nutritious and affordable food both now, and in the future.”

    Khalid stated that NASC will be convening a national seed planning summit for the 2024 planting season and how to achieve the national seed requirement.

    Netherland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Wouter Plomp, said: “The Netherlands – Nigeria Seed Partnership – a model of collaboration built on knowledge exchange, has been instrumental in advancing Nigeria’s seed sector, fostering the exchange of expertise, technology and best practices.”

  • Govt begins door-to-door grains sharing for IDPs

    Govt begins door-to-door grains sharing for IDPs

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Maiduguri unveiled a new and more effective distribution plan for delivering relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons in the Northeast.

    The new plan differs from the undignified practice of forcing people to queue up for food.

    Under the new plan, which Prof. Osinbajo kicked-off at the Bakassi Camp, camp officials will now be demanded to deliver food items to the IDPs at their door-steps in exchange for a pre-issued voucher.

    Acting President Osinbajo, while unveiling the new strategy, said the plan is part of the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari towards catering for the needs and welfare of IDPs in the Northeast.

    Osinbajo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said: “We are incorporating the voucher system, which do not only make the process of relief distribution transparent, it will improve our own data collection and our national capacity to plan for what will be a quarterly exercise.

    “As we restore and maintain security in the region, we must not lose sight of the need to provide social service, food, education, healthcare, shelter as well as resettlement and livelihood support.

    “Today, the Federal Government flags off what will be a quarterly grain distribution programme for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and by this, we are saying to our brothers and sisters in the Northeast that our country does not take their burdens lightly and we are not blind to their difficulties.

    “I am particularly pleased to say that the grains that we’ll be distributing, which comprise of Sorghum, Maize, Soya Beans and Rice, are produced locally; they are produced here in Nigeria by our own farmers.

    “This has always been the vision of Mr. President for our country, to grow what we eat, and to eat what we grow and to use what we make. These grains have travelled from various locations across the country, from as far afield as Ibadan, and as close as Gombe; escorted and protected by the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian military and in some cases will be airlifted by the Nigeria Air Force.”

    He said the Federal Government would work closely with states to provide other assistance to the IDPs including health services.

    He hailed the partnership support from international partners such as the UN, World Food Programme, NEMA, the military, the police, other security agencies and state governments in the region.

    He also thanked neigbouring countries like Cameroon, Chad and Niger for their support in the joint fight against terrorism.

    The Acting President, who on arrival paid a courtesy visit on the Shehu of Borno, Umar Abubakar Gabai Ibn El-Kanemi in his palace, told the traditional ruler and members of his Emirate Council that President Buhari sees the welfare of the IDPs as the responsibility of government.

    The Shehu of Borno thanked President Buhari for his commitment to the restoration of peace in the State and entire region.

    He noted the laudable efforts of the Buhari Presidency at recovering the kidnapped Chibok girls and attending to the welfare of IDPs across the region.

    Upon arrival in Maiduguri, the Acting President inspected the consignment of about 30,000 metric tonnes of the food items to be delivered across the region by 1,032 trucks.

    The distribution is for affected IDPs in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe states.

    Prof. Osinbajo during the visit also inspected some facilities such as the NEMA warehouse, the Bakassi IDP camp office and the premises of a school located within the camp.

  • The release of 32,000 tons of grains in Jigawa

    Nigeria is a country blessed with both human and natural resources. The report and plan by the Jigawa State government to distribute over 32,000 tons worth of grains to the poor to cushion their suffering as result of high price of food stuff in the country is a good step. Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar said the measure was to reduce the suffering of the poorest in the society and also crash the prices of foodstuff because of Ramadan fasting. But I know it is mostly high politicians and office holders in that will enjoy the lion share. This is because it has happened before in the previous regime.

    Is the donation going to be given to only APC members or to all Jigawa people irrespective of political affiliations?

    I am appealing to the government to address this issue immediately by assigning God fearing people to handle such cases. Because you may be doing the right things but others are there to discredit your good policies and agenda.

    • By Adamu Muhd Usman,Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa State
  • Buhari spending sleepless nights on how to make life better for Nigerians- Shehu

    Buhari spending sleepless nights on how to make life better for Nigerians- Shehu

    To check food price increases and exploitation of common people by traders, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered for the release of 10,000 tons of grains from the national strategic grains reserves for national distribution.

    This decision was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

    Buhari has also directed the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh to ensure that all the able-bodied men and women in IDP camps be assisted to return to farming immediately.

    The directives were in reaction to calls for government measures to ease hardship associated with food inflation.

    The Presidency however asserted that the devastation of the economy was caused by the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption and the lack of planning by the past administrations and one that should not be blamed on the Change Agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    The Presidency also rejected the insinuations that poverty and lack are products of the Change mantra.

    The statement reads: “This should be dismissed as an erroneous and misplaced opposition criticism. The President understands the pain and the cries of the citizens of this country and he is spending sleepless nights over how he can make life better for everyone.

    “Contrary to assertions by a faction of the opposition Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), the President’s energy and focus are on changing the life of Nigerians, with a view to making it better than he met it.

    “Change is a process. Change does not happen overnight. Change can be inconvenient. Change sometimes comes with pain. Over the past year, the government has been working night and day to deliver on its promise of change to Nigerians, and the painful process is still ongoing.

    “This is work in progress. As life gradually returns to normal in much of the country and the northeast in particular, agriculture will resume and traders from neighbouring African countries will once again feel safe to do business with us, yet another boost for our economy.”

    The Presidency maintained that it is only when Nigerians appreciate where they are coming from that they will grasp the full meaning and essence of what the ongoing journey entails.

  • Kebbi buys grains for farmers

    The Chairman, Wheat Farmers Association in Kebbi State, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigandu, has announced to his fellow growers that the state government has started buying tons of wheat for distribution to them.

    Maigandu said this in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, where he displayed some of the grains, adding that the gesture was to encourage wheat farmers in the state to embark on large-scale production of the crop so that the state will be become number one producer of the grain in the country.

    “At this level, 400 tons of wheat have been purchased at N15,000 per bag; I got the assurance of the state government to support our farmers through accessing loans and other incentives. It is our hope that farmers will utilise this opportunity to cultivate wheat on the over 600,000 hectares of fadama land in the state.”

    The chairman has also allayed farmers’ fears on the sustainability of the scheme by announcing that the Federal Government has released funds to the association in that regard.

    The Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kamba represented Governor Atiku  Bagudu at the event.

    He assured the farmers of the government support.

  • Rotary distributes grains

    Rotary Club of Ilorin, GRA,  Kwara State has mounted a road-show campaign to create awareness on its humanitarian profile.

    To drive the point home, the club distributed about 2,000 bags of rice and beans to the needy and less privileged.

    Chartered President of the Club branch and former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states, Col. Theophilus Bamgboye (retd) led the carnival.

    The road show started from GRA to Challenge and proceeded to Post Office, Emir’s palace market, Gambari, Ipata, Maraba, Sango, Fate, Tanke, Gaa Akanbi, Ajasepo Road, Unity Roundabout and Murtala Road.

    At the Emir’s Palace and Gambari, Col. Gbamgboye and members of the club distributed 10kg bags of branded rice and beans.

    By the time the road show convoy got to Ipata, the destitute and able-bodied people were trooping out to collect the largesse.

    Speaking with reporters after the event, Bamgboye said the road show was to create awareness among the people about activities of Rotary Club of Ilorin GRA.

    He said over 2, 000 of the branded 10kg rice and beans were distributed during the road show to people irrespective of their social standing.

    Col Bamgboye said Rotary Club was a humanitarian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to help the needy and less privileged the society.

    Asked to compare his feelings about his participation in the road show as Rotary President and former state governor he said “there is nothing more fulfilling in touching lives in private capacity than official position as military administrator.

    .”You know, as governor of a state, it is statutory to provide social amenities with State resources but with Club like Rotary, you use personal means to better lives of lacking fellow human beings.”

    He said that the road show was to sensitise members of the public about the humanitarian mission and vision of the Rotary club.

    He added that the sensitization was also designed to make well meaning Nigerians participate in Rotary activities designed to uplift the downtrodden.

    Bamgboye said contrary to public perception, Rotary was not a secret society nor its membership restricted to the rich.

    He explained that members of the club meet weekly to make the haves contribute their widow’s mite to the well being of the needy.

    The former military administrator added that Rotary Club was involved in intervention schemes designed to make people self employed and self reliant.

    The President said Ilorin GRA Rotary has been involved in the rehabilitation of dilapidated Isolo-Opin Secondary school in Ekiti local government area of Kwara within the last one year that the club was chartered.

    Also speaking, President of Ilorin Metro, Rotarian Salami Onaolapo said that Rotary was involved in vocational skills acquisition, social rehabilitation of the indigent, education and eradication of killer diseases like Polio.

    Onaolapo said Rotary was always in partnership with government and non-governmental organizations in order to achieve its set objectives.

    He said this accounted for donations to the orphanages and leprosarium as well as training of local fabric weavers in the state.

  • Yobe faults distribution of Fed Govt’s grains

    The Yobe State Government has accused a minister of using the grains donated by the Federal Government to advance his political interest.

    The grains were reportedly donated to the state to alleviate the suffering caused by the state of emergency.

    But the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the grains were not shared on political basis but to every resident, irrespective of party affiliation.

    Addressing reporters in Damaturu, the state capital, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Legislative Affairs, Mai Mala Buni, alleged that the minister hijacked the materials for his political interest.

    Buni said: “In an ideal situation, the materials meant for Yobe were supposed to be handed over to the state government for onward distribution to the victims. But they were diverted by the minister to serve his political interest. That is wrong.”

    PDP State Chairman Lawan Gana Karasuwa regretted that “the Yobe State Government is bringing politics into a matter that affects ordinary people”.

    He added: “The grains we are talking about here were brought by the Federal Government and handed over to the Waziri Ibrahim Foundation for onward distribution to everybody in the state.

    “It is regrettable that the state government is bringing politics into the matter. The grains were shared, irrespective of party affiliation. It is the most successful programme I have witnessed so far since the donations of materials to victims of this insurgency started.”