Following the soaring food prices in the country and the lack of money to purchase same, the Federal Government has released 44,656 bags of assorted food items to residents of the nation’s capital, Abuja, as palliatives. Flagging-off the distribution of the food items to the residents of the territory on Thursday in Gwagwalada, Minister of State in the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, acknowledged that the FCT Administration has taken delivery of 23,996 bags of 25 kg rice from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. According to her, the gesture was aimed at addressing the biting food shortages and bringing relief and succour to Nigerians in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration. She said an additional consignment of 9,580 bags consisting of 4,680 bags of maize, 13,920 bags of sorghum, 960 bags of garri and 1100 bags of millet has been received.

While she commended the federal government for the gesture, Mahmoud said it would no doubt go a long way in alleviating the burden of food scarcity and high cost of food items on Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable who are worst affected by the situation. To ensure that the items reach the intended population, the minister said; “I have instructed the relevant Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies, SDAs to put in place the necessary security measures to avert the ugly incidence of the past when miscreants hijack the produce” She, however, appealed to residents to conduct themselves in a responsible and orderly manner, and cooperate fully with the distribution teams, so that the administration could achieve success. “We are also not oblivious of the fact that for any meaningful development to be sustained, due attention must be placed on the welfare of our citizens. “To achieve this, we have placed priority on re-invigorating the agricultural sector, which is crucial to achieving our collective quest for food and nutrition security. “We will continue to work assiduously to create a safe, secure, and enabling environment that fosters agricultural investments, ensuring that no resident of the FCT goes hungry”, she stated. Earlier, the Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, ARDS, Lawan Kolo Geidam, commended President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and foresight in addressing the rising cost of foodstuffs and making this critical intervention possible. Geidam revealed that the secretariat has perfected plans with the area council authorities to develop a meticulous distribution plan that would ensure an efficient exercise, making sure that the food items reach the targeted groups. The identified groups according to him include the six area councils, Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), Faith Based Organisations (JNI & CAN), and the 17 graded chiefs. Others include Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), all widow groups in FCT, all orphanages in FCT, groups of persons with disabilities in the FCT, Leprosy colony residents, Bwari rehabilitation home, Wako Orphanage and IDP camps. He further stated that the secretariat has mobilised over 1,000 vulnerable individuals who would each receive a direct allocation of food items. Geidam added that the secretariat will follow-up this exercise by delivering the items to the area councils, ensuring that the items reach the most vulnerable members of the community.