FG moves to ensure food security, distributes assorted food commodities in Taraba
From Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
As part of the numerous efforts to ensure food security across Nigeria, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture has distributed assorted food commodities to the vulnerable and the Internally Displaced Persons in Taraba State.
Performing the symbolic distribution of the commodities at a flag-off ceremony in Jalingo, the Minister of Transport, Hon. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo said, the programme was also part of the Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring food security and poverty alleviation, as well as cushioning the effects of rising prices of food items across the country.
Mu’azu who stood in for the Hon. Minister of Agriculture Dr. Mohammed M. Abubakar and represented the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, noted that the well-being of Nigerians has always been and would continue to be President Buhari’s priority.
Hence, the release of the assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve Stock to the displaced, the vulnerable and poultry associations of Nigeria and feed millers in the country.
The Minister noted that the price of food commodities which had skyrocketed in recent times is a global issue in which Nigeria is not an exception.
He revealed that the World Bank’s food commodity price index had shown that between March and April 2022, the price of food commodities globally went up by 15% over the previous two months and more than 80% higher than two years ago.
He identified factors such as climate change, effect of Covid 19 pandemic, civil unrest, recurrent farmer-herders crises and strain on the demand-supply chain among other as been responsible for the arbiteral rise in price of food commodities in the country.
In his words, ” it is in the light of these and in tandem with one of the nine point agenda of this administration which is social inclusion that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the emergency release of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve Stock to the displaced and the vulnerable in our society, poultry associations of Nigeria and feed millers.
“”The initiative is to impact Nigerians across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT. The commodities are being approved for distribution free-of-charge and therefore it is a criminal offense to sell them, bearing in mind Mr. President’s goal of uplifting the life of the common man”. He added.
While assuring the beneficiaries of the commodities an effective and fair distribution, the Minister said, he had already constituted a committee, made up of eminently trustworthy and reliable men and women, who would ensure that the commodities were satisfactorily distributed in a manner that the President would be proud of.
He identified the committee members as Alh. Muhammad Adamu Jalingo, the Waziri Bakundi, as the Chairman, Mr Apolos Jediel, State Organizing Secretary, APC, Taraba State as Secretary, Deborah Sentima, Zonal Woman Leader, South, APC, Taraba State as a member.
Others are Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Audu as a member, Nafiu Muhammed, State Disable Leader, APC Taraba State as a member and Hon. Amila Apolos, an aspirant for member, Taraba State House of Assembly on the platform of APC also as a member of the committee.
While responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Coordinator of UMCN Orphanage Jalingo, Mr. Benjamin Simon, appreciated the Federal Government for putting smile on the faces of the less privillege in Taraba State and prayed that God should equally bless the administration.
Earlier, Governor Darius Ishaku commended President Buhari for the elevation of Sambo from a junior minister to a substantive minister.
Ishaku, who was represented by the Secretary to the Taraba State Government, Mr. Anthony Jellason also commended the president for the release of assorted food commodities to the vulnerable in the state.
He said that the gesture would go a long way in cushioning the effect of food shortage and the cost of food in the market.
In his goodwill message, the Emire of Muri, HRH. Alhaji Abbas Njidda Tafida advised the people of Taraba state to invest more in farming.
Tafida noted that a productive economy was better than a consuming economy, adding that Taraba people had no business complaining of hunger and poverty.
The paramount ruler thanked President Muhammed Buhari for promoting the son of the soil to a big ministry.
He, therefore, gave assurance that the minister would not fail the president for his kind gesture to the people of the state.
