Food crisis: States in anxious wait for FG’s grain allocations.

Food crisis: States in anxious wait for FG’s grain allocations.

The 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are eagerly awaiting the delivery of the 102,000 metric tons of grains pledged last week by President Bola Tinubu for the purpose of ameliorating the current high food prices.

The ministry will, in the first instance, release about 42,000 metric tons of maize, millet, garri, and other commodities in its strategic reserve for distribution to the states.

A senior official of the ministry told The Nation on the phone yesterday that the matter was being treated with “utmost urgency” with a view to easing the suffering of the generality of Nigerians.

But the sharing formula of the items was not available last night.

 “We are very sure that the release of 42,000mt of grains from the National Strategic Grain Reserve as well as release of 60,000mt of rice by the Rice Miller’s Association at a subsidised rate will be immediate,” the official said.

He added: “The minister has given his word that we cannot waste time on the distribution, but he is in the best position to tell us when it will commence.

 “This is in response to the nation’s growing food crisis and the rising cost of commodities, and it has to be immediate.”

The Director, National Strategic Grain Reserve, Engr. Sule Haruna, who was also contacted, said there were enough grains in reserve to be released as directed by the President.

He said: “We are ready. Once we are given approval, we will commence and it will be done in a transparent way.”

Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris, said the President’s directive was part of the government’s short-term measure to address the high cost of food.

Idris warned that the government would sanction hoarders of food items, noting that emergencies require emergency measures to ensure the availability of food to Nigerians.

 He also said the government would embark on importation to plug any shortfall that might be experienced after the release of the food items.

On February 6, the presidential committee on emergency food intervention met at the Presidential Villa in Abuja over the rising cost of living in the country.