By Miriam Humbe
The Federal Government has flagged off presentation of assorted food items to State Government for distribution as palliatives to vulnerable persons as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cushion the impacts of global economic crunch being experienced in the country.
Recall that the President had approved the release of 42,000MT assorted grains from the National Strategic Reserve to be distributed to the vulnerable persons across the states in all the Local Government Areas.
The flag-off was held in Sokoto on Sunday, in a directive as approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for distribution of Palliatives to vulnerable persons across the states and all of the 774 LGAs.
Following the directive, concerted efforts were made by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Emergency Management Agency in the planning and haulage of the food items.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, on behalf of the Federal Government flagged-off the presentation to the Governor of Sokoto State, Dr Ahmad Aliyu in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Sen Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Idris Mohammed Malagi and the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Kyari commended NEMA and security agencies for being diligent and working together in safe delivery of the items.
Sen Kyari also flagged-off distribution of the items.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Malagi, said the food items were evidences of the promise made by President Tinubu and the Federal Government to improve on the lives and welfare of Nigerians.
Receiving the items, Governor Aliyu appreciated President Tinubu and the Federal Government for the palliative.
He confirmed the quantity of the items received from NEMA and assured adherence to the given template for the distribution.
The Director General of NEMA explained that the items delivered to Sokoto State were: a. 506 MT of maize (10,120, 50kg bags); b. 598MT of sorghum (11,960 50kg bags) and c. 216.5MT of millet (4,324 50kg bags).
She provided the list of stakeholders at the Local Government Areas that are expected to be part of the food distribution as well as percentage of items set aside for various vulnerable group of persons.
