The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed 1,760 metric tonnes of food items to Lagos state to cushion the effect of high cost of food items in the country.

The food items included 780 metric tonnes of maize, which is equivalent to 15,600 bags of 50 kg maize; and 800 metric tonnes of sorghum, which is equivalent to 16,000 bags of 50kg sorghum.

The other included 94,000 metric tonnes of garri, which is equivalent to 3,760 bags of 25kg bags of garri.

Speaking at the event, the director-general of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, said the presentation of the assorted commodities was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Ms Umar was represented at the event by the

zonal director, South-West, NEMA, Steven Adewale.

She expressed gratitude to the president for fulfilling his promise to cushion the effect of the high cost of food items by ordering the distribution of food items across the country.

“In fulfilment of his promise to reduce the impact of the current economic downturn experienced in the country and in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, Mr President approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of food commodities from the national strategic reserve under the custody of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

“The assorted food commodities include maize, sorghum and garri.

“The above food items will be given to all the local government areas in the state.

“Based on the directives of Mr President, 20 per cent of the food items will be given to religious organisations, while three per cent to boarding schools in all the local governments in the state,” Ms Umar said.

Dr Rasheed Macauley, head of veterinary services, who received the items on behalf of the ministry of agriculture, expressed gratitude to the federal government for the kind gesture.

Mr Macauley said that based on the population of Lagos, he requested that more of the commodities should be sent to the state.

One of the recipients, Victory Olaleye, expressed gratitude to the federal government and Lagos state for the kind gesture.

(NAN)