By Miriam Humbe
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has sustained efforts in nationwide delivery of food commodities released from the National Strategic Reserve with presentation of the items to the Kebbi State Government for distribution to vulnerable persons in the State.
NEMA’s Head, Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel revealed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
The State Governor, Alhaji Nasir Idris received the items on behalf of the beneficiaries in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday 15th May, 2024.
The President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the release of 42,000MT of food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve and tasked NEMA to work with Office of the National Security Adviser and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to distribute the items.
The items were meant to cushion the impacts of global economic situation affecting vulnerable Nigerians across the States, especially at the Local Government Areas.
The food items have been fully transported and handed over in Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi, Plateau, Kogi, Ebonyi, Yobe, Delta, Enugu, Abia, Anambra States.
Besides the 12 States, there’s renewed commitment to conclude the assignment within next shortest time.
At the presentation of the items in Birnin Kebbi, the DG NEMA said Kebbi State was allocated:
i. 462 MT of maize (9,240 bags of 50kg)
ii. 537.6 MT of sorghum (10,752 bags of 50kg)
iii. 199.5 MT of millet (3,990 bags of 50kg)
She said that: “The food items will be shared equally to all the LGAs in the State.
“Also, based on the directives of Mr President, 20% of the food items due for each LGA should be given to religious organizations (JNI & CAN) and 3% to be given to boarding schools in the LGAs.”
The DG NEMA of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, informed the Kebbi State Governor about the Seasonal Climate Prediction of flood this year as may affect the State and urged the State Government to be proactive in taking necessary precautionary measures to mitigate against flooding in the communities.
She mentioned that the Local Government Areas with high probable flood risk in the State are Bagudo, Ngaski, Yauri, Argungu, Suru, Augie, Jega, Maiyama, Koko/Besse, Sakaba, Gwandu, Dandi, Kalgo, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza and Aleiro.
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State appreciated the President and Federal Government for timely delivery of the food items through NEMA to assist the vulnerable persons in the State.
He said the gesture by the Federal Government was evidence of commitment towards improving the quality of lives and welfare of the citizens.
While assuring that the items would be distributed to the target beneficiaries, the Governor also said it would complement the efforts by State Government to address hunger and boost food production at the grassroots.
The Governor also assured that the State Government would work with NEMA on the flood prediction to mitigate against the impact of the predicted flood in the State.
