FIC Report (Sokoto State) – The Federal Government has flagged-off the distribution of grains to vulnerable groups in Sokoto to cushion the hardship in the country and improve the Nigerian Economy for sustainable development and prosperity for all citizens.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris stated this at the flag off of distribution of grains provided by the President at Government House Sokoto, on Sunday, 7th April, 2024.
According to him, “it is important to state that the kind of collaboration, Mr President is always desirous of, is a firm collaboration between the Federal and subnational.”
The Honourable Minister, also stated that “Mr President, has said from the onset that whatever he will do to Nigeria, Nigerians will be first, therefore he is also investing massively towards the production of agriculture, indeed contributing massively to ensure agricultural value chain so that Nigerians will have a secured future through food security that all of us needs to keep the country together.”
He commended the Sokoto State Governor for his giant strides in commissioning over a 100 projects in his first 100 days of office. He commended him as well for being the first Governor to receive the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to ensure that food is being given to his people. He assured the people of Sokoto state that the Federal Government has always had the people at heart.
Earlier in his remarks, the Honourable Minister for Agriculture, Sen, Abubakar Kyari, said that, 42,000 metric tons of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Food Reserve from across the country has been released to vulnerable Nigerians to cushion the effect of rising cost of food commodities, which was graciously approved by President Bola Am8Pihmed Tinubu.
He stated that the National Strategic Food Reserve is expected to keep only 5 percent of the total annual food production while 10 percent is expected to be by the state Government as a buffer to complement the National Food Reserve, but the buffer stock program has remained non-existent in the states of the Federation.
He further stated that the choice of Sokoto was not a coincidence but a well thought out decision, first from the strategic position of Sokoto and its people in the committee of states and cognizance of the commendable efforts of the Governor of Sokoto state in the development of agriculture and enhancement of livelihood of farmers in the state. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture took note of the distribution of assorted fertilizers to farmers for free in all the 23 Local Government Areas across the state, provision of free agro- chemicals to farmers for the 2023/2024 dry season farming and recently, construction of 450 hectares irrigation scheme with payment of compensation to the affected farmers. Kyari stated that these attested to the progressive governance and a statement of fact that Sokoto has a pivotal position in the Renewed Hope of food security agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Also, the Sokoto state Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, commended the effort of the Federal Government for its prompt response geared towards further alleviating the plight of the vulnerable groups, assuring that the grains will be shared among the beneficiaries without fear and favour.
Some of the beneficiaries from Sokoto North and Sokoto south Local Government Areas, Mal Muhammad Musa and Mrs HauwaGarba, commended the Federal Government for identifying with them at the time of their need.
The allocation of food released to Sokoto comprises maize 506,00 metric tons, sorghum 589,000 metric tons and Millet 216.20 metric tons. All these have since been delivered to Sokoto State.
Highlight of the occasion was the flagging off of the distribution of the food Commodities to Sokoto North and Sokoto South Local Government Areas.
In attendance were the Minister of state for Agriculture Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, DG NEMA, Sen Aliyu Magatakarda, former Governor of Sokoto, Mal. Yahaya Abdulkareem, Speaker Sokoto State House of Assembly, Members Sokoto State House of Assembly, representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, Security agents among others.
Ramatu Sani,
Reporting from Sokoto
