Federal Government Distributes Grain to Needy Households in FCTFederal Government Distributes Grain to Needy Households in FCT The Federal Government of Nigeria has distributed 44,656 bags of grain to poor and vulnerable households in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Minister of State for FCT Dr. Mariya Mahmoud stated that the foodstuffs included rice, maize, sorghum, millet, and cassava flakes. She said the gesture aimed to address food shortages and alleviate economic hardships. The Minister commended President Bola Tinubu for his concern for vulnerable Nigerians. She assured that safety measures had been implemented for smooth distribution. National Emergency Management Agency Director-General Hajiya Zubaida Umar said the distribution was part of 42,000 metric tons distributed nationwide. She highlighted that 20% of the grain was designated for religious organizations and 3% for boarding schools. Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat Mr. Lawan Geidam outlined beneficiaries as poor households, civil society organizations, orphanages, and internally displaced persons. Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support, saying it would significantly reduce hunger. Ms. Ladi Douglas said the maize she received would help feed her family, while Mr. Victor Joshua described the gesture as life-saving. The government’s commitment to revitalizing the agricultural sector and ensuring food security was emphasized. The FCT administration has also commenced distributing agricultural inputs to farmers.
WorldStage Newsonline– The Federal Government of Nigeria has released 44,656 bags of grain for distribution to poor and vulnerable households in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State of FCT, stated this on Thursday in Gwagwalada while handing over the food items to the six Area Councils for distribution to poor and vulnerable households across the area.
Mahmoud said the foodstuffs consisted of 23,996 x 25 kilogram (kg) bags of rice, 4,680 x 50 kg bags of maize, 13,920 x 50 kg bags of sorghum, 1,100 x 50 kg bags of millet and 960 x 25 kg bags of gari (cassava flakes).
She said the gesture was aimed at addressing the dire food shortage faced by Nigerians, especially poor and vulnerable households.
According to her, the support will bring relief to poor households who struggle to get a good meal every day due to the current economic challenges, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister commended the Federal Government for the gesture, stressing that it would undoubtedly ease the burden of scarcity and high cost of food items on poor Nigeria.
She assured them that necessary safety measures had been put in place to ensure smooth distribution to the intended beneficiaries.
She appealed to the residents to behave responsibly and orderly and fully cooperate with the distribution teams to make the exercise a success.
“In order to continue meaningful development, sufficient attention must be paid to the well-being of our citizens.
“To achieve this, we have prioritized revitalizing the agricultural sector, which is critical to achieving our shared quest for food and nutrition security.
“The FCT administration had already commenced the distribution of essential agricultural inputs to farmers to ensure a successful planting season and bountiful harvest, thus improving food security.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to create a safe, secure and enabling environment that will encourage agricultural investment and ensure that no resident of the FCT goes hungry,” the Minister said.
Earlier, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, had said the foodstuffs were part of the 42,000 metric tons of grains distributed across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
According to Umar, the gesture was a gesture by President Bola Tinubu to alleviate economic hardships across the country.
She said the grains would be distributed through specially constituted committees in the six area councils of the FCT.
She added that in line with President Tinubu’s directive, 20 percent of the grain was earmarked for religious organisations and 3 percent for boarding schools in the regional councils.
Mr Lawan Geidam, Permanent Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, commended President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and foresight in tackling the scourge of hunger among poor Nigerians.
Geidam identified a number of beneficiaries, including poor and vulnerable households in the six area councils, the Joint Union Action Committee, religious organisations and 17 Graded Chiefs of the FCT.
Others, he said, include civil society organisations, widows, orphanages, people with disabilities, leper colonies, the Bwari Rehabilitation Home and internally displaced persons.
Geidam promised strict monitoring to ensure food reached the most vulnerable members of the community.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms Ladi Douglas, a mother of three, said food support would significantly reduce hunger in poor households.
Douglas, who received a 50kg bag of maize, praised Tinubu for the support, stressing that it would help her feed her family.
Another beneficiary, Mr Victor Joshua, who received a 25kg bag of rice, described the gesture as life-saving. He said his family barely got two meals a day.
“But this will change with this food support. I am really grateful,” Joshua said.
