ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal Government of Nigeria has distributed 44,656 bags of assorted food items to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to alleviate the suffering caused by soaring food prices and lack of funds to purchase them.
The gesture is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration to address food shortages and bring relief to Nigerians.
During the flagging-off of the distribution of the food items to the residents of the territory on Thursday in Gwagwalada, Minister of State in the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, acknowledged that the FCT Administration has taken delivery of 23,996 bags of 25 kg rice from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The food items include rice, maize, sorghum, garri, and millet.
The FCT Administration received 23,996 bags of 25 kg rice from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with an additional consignment of 9,580 bags of other food items.
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Mahmoud commended the Federal Government of Nigeria for the gesture, which she said would go a long way in alleviating the burden of food scarcity and high cost of food items on Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable.
She instructed the relevant Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies (SDAs) to ensure the items reach the intended population and appealed to residents to conduct themselves in a responsible and orderly manner during the distribution.
To ensure that the items reach the intended population, the minister said; “I have instructed the relevant Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies, SDAs to put in place the necessary security measures to avert the ugly incidence of the past when miscreants hijack the produce
“We are also not oblivious of the fact that for any meaningful development to be sustained, due attention must be placed on the welfare of our citizens.
“To achieve this, we have placed priority on re-invigorating the agricultural sector, which is crucial to achieving our collective quest for food and nutrition security.
“We will continue to work assiduously to create a safe, secure, and enabling environment that fosters agricultural investments, ensuring that no resident of the FCT goes hungry”, she stated.
The Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Lawan Kolo Geidam, commended President Tinubu for his leadership and foresight in addressing the rising cost of foodstuffs.
Geidam revealed that the secretariat has perfected plans with area council authorities to develop a meticulous distribution plan, ensuring the food items reach targeted groups, including area councils, faith-based organizations, civil society organizations, widow groups, orphanages, and persons with disabilities.
The secretariat has mobilized over 1,000 vulnerable individuals to receive direct allocations of food items, with follow-up exercises to deliver items to area councils, ensuring the most vulnerable members of the community receive the support.