The Minister of Agriculture Food and Security Abubakar Kyari, on Tuesday, announced a new development by the federal government to inject 58,500 metric tons of rice into the country’s markets.
Kyari’s assertion was made at an interactive session with the National Assembly joint committee on agriculture and rural development in Abuja. This move he noted will combat food insecurity and the incessant surge in the price of food commodities across the state.
Hear him, “58,500 metric tons of milled rice from mega rice millers will also be released into the market for stabilisation.”
The move is a backdrop of the initial plans by the federal government to distribute 42,000 metric tons of assorted food items from the strategic reserve and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria. However, Kyari said the distribution has commenced across some states of the federation.
But the Agric minister noted that although the president’s directive was received in February through the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, the distribution has commenced but has not been publicised. Defending the decision Kyari said the ministry is working with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the smooth distribution of grains across states to avoid cases of looting.
“We have received directive and approval from the President to distribute, for immediate impact, 42,000 metric tons of assorted grains free of charge to the Nigerian population. This was received in mid-February. As we are speaking, we have a record of the distribution being carried out.
“But I want to plead with the honourable house and distinguished senators that some of the movements can’t be made public but a lot of states have started receiving their grains,” Kyari was quoted saying.
