By Miriam Humbe
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has delivered 1009 Metric tonnes of assorted grains to the Federal Capital Administration from the 42,000 Metric tonnes approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for distribution to vulnerable Nigerians across the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory.
NEMA’s Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar who presented the grains to Minister of State for FCT, Dr Mariam Mahmud said the items should be shared equally to all the Area Councils in the FCT.
She said: “Based on directives of the President, 20% of the food items due for each Area council should be given to religious organizations (JNI and CAN) and 3% to be given to boarding schools.”
She also said that the items were meant to be distributed directly to the beneficiaries through a local committee in each Area council with members comprising of the Council Chairman, reps of SEMA, a traditional ruler and Department of State Services Officer.
Others are the Police, Civil Defense, Faith-Based Organizations, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Women Associations, Persons With Disabilities groups, Youths Associations, Principals of boarding schools, Civil Society Organizations and the media.
Mrs Umar said she was also on advocacy over the 2024 flood forecast to request the FCT Administration to take proactive and necessary mitigative measures to avert the risk of flooding in the communities of the FCT.
She highlighted the mitigative measures to be taken as including directive to the FCT Emergency Management Agency and the frontline Local Government authorities to put in place prepared actions, carrying out public enlightenment at the grassroots and removing refuse and weeds from water channels, and all avenues for river run-offs so as to allow free flow of flood waters.
The Minister of State FCT appreciated President Tinubu and NEMA for the food items and assured of equitable distribution to the target beneficiaries.
Some of the beneficiaries also thanked the federal government for providing the food items as it will go a long way in alleviating the high cost of foods.
The items received by the FCT included:
234 Metric tons of maize 4680 50kg bags
55 metric tons of millet 1100 50 kg bags
696 Metric Tons of sorghum 13920 50kg bags
24 Metric tons of garri 960 25kg bags
