FIC Report (Gombe State) – The Director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, on behalf of the Federal Government has presented assorted grains to the Gombe State government for distribution to vulnerable persons and groups in the state.
Umar who was represented by Mr Yakubu Suleiman, North East Zonal Director, NEMA handed 17, 600 bags of assorted grains to the Gombe State government for onward distribution to vulnerable groups, at a brief ceremony in Gombe on Thursday.
She stated that the intervention showed how concerned President Bola Tinubu is about the welfare of all Nigerians.
According to her, the distribution of the grains is to cushion the effect of high cost of food items in the country as well as reduce the impact of the economic hardship on Nigerians especially the vulnerable.
She said that the distribution which would commence very soon, was in fulfilment of President Tinubu’s promise to reduce the impact of the current economic down-turn being experienced in the country.
“You will recall that in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, Mr President approved the release of 42,000MT of assorted 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, millet, sorghum, and garri.
“After sharing the commodities and successfully transporting the quantities allocated to Gombe State, today we are here to hand-over the food items to the State Government for distribution to the identified deserving beneficiaries,” she said.
She further added that, Gombe State has been allocated: 242 metric tonnes of maize (4,840 bags of 50kg); 539 metric tonnes of Sorghum (10,780 bags of 50kg) and 99 metric tonnes of millet (1,980bags of 50kg).
On the possibility of diversion, Umar said with the implementation framework put in by the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, had made it impossible for anyone to divert the food items.
She pointed out that, NEMA officials in collaboration with personnel of State Security Service and anti-corruption agencies, will ensure that the grains are distributed to the intended recipients and in the correct quantity and packaging.
Receiving the items, Mr Manassah Jatau, Gombe State deputy governor appreciated Tinubu and the Federal Government for the palliative.
Jatau assured that the food items would get to the intended beneficiaries in line with the distribution guideline from the Federal Government.
Saluk Istifanus
Head, FIC Gombe
