The presidency has provided insight on the delay of the distribution of free grains to Nigerians.
Recall that the federal government had planned to distribute 42,000 metric tonnes of grains to Nigerians.
The stride is aimed at alleviating the current food shortages in the country.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, cited ongoing bagging of grains at seven strategic locations across the country as the primary cause for the delay.
According to The Nation, he stated that the task of bagging the grains that will shortly be distributed to Nigerians in need has been assigned to the National Emergency Management Agency.
He said this in a statement issued on Friday, reiterating the assurance that Nigerians will soon receive free gains.
The presidential aide also said that 60,000 metric tonnes of rice will be provided by the federal government to Nigerians.
He said: “The Tinubu administration through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to support the vulnerable population across the country.
“The grains in seven locations of strategic reserve, are now being bagged for onward delivery to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The need to bag the grains, caused the delay as the bags were freshly oordered by the government.
“Nigerians will not need to pay for the grain bags, as they are free. This will be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice Millers.
“Already, with the announcement of the impending releases of food commodities from the Strategic Reserve, there is a noticeable reduction in commodity prices across major grains markets in the country, Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari.”
