The food crisis dominated discussions at yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja. This was the second meeting in five days of the highest decision-making body of the executive branch that decides on key issues affecting the nation.
The Minister of Information and National Guidance, Mohammed Idris, announced after the meeting that 740 trucks loaded with rice would be delivered to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This translates into 20 trucks with 1,200 bags of 25kg of rice per state.
This is part of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention to alleviate the food crisis. The Minister, who was accompanied by the Special Assistant to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, added that President Tinubu had directed the Minister of Agriculture to ensure that food reaches the most vulnerable in each state.
He said, “The council discussed the situation in Nigeria, particularly the issue of food supply and the scarcity of food on the table of many Nigerians. After detailed consultations, the Minister of Agriculture had been pre-directed to ensure food supply to Nigerians. Importantly, about 20 trucks loaded with rice have already been delivered to each state of the federation, including the National Capital Territory. Each truck is loaded with about 1,200 bags containing 25 kilograms of rice.
“This is one of the measures being taken by the government to ensure that the plight of Nigerians is alleviated.
“In summary, individual state governments has received 20 trucks loaded with rice to redistribute to the most vulnerable. This is a first step. The Federal Government will continue to support all states in alleviating the plight of food insecurity for most Nigerians.
“As I said, it is expected that state governors will distribute these food items to the most vulnerable so that the distress will be significantly alleviated.”
The Minister added that the FEC has a Presidential Committee on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) which has directed it to accelerate measures to provide CNG-compatible buses to address the high cost of transportation in the country.
He said, “The Federal Executive Council has directed the Presidential Committee on CNG to speed up bus procurement activities so that conversion kits are available to most Nigerians.
“Although it has already begun, the Federal Executive Council is calling for a redoubled effort to ensure that the necessary conversion kits for CNG are available.
“Already registered conversion centres will also be significantly upgraded to ensure more conversion centres and conversion kits are available to Nigerians.
The increase in CNG compliance levels mandated by the Federal Government is aimed at reducing over-dependence on PMS (premium petrol) or gasoline. And this will support the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
“Overall, the FEC notes some of the grievances of Nigerians, issues that have been raised around transportation, food prices, and food shortages in many households across the country. The FEC is doing all it takes to ensure most Nigerians have access to food.
“What the government is doing now is just a necessary first step to ensure that governors have what it takes to provide Nigerians with what they need.
“And the government will continue to work to ensure that food interventions are available. This is of course in addition to the fertilizer supply efforts already undertaken by the government. Most governors will also be assisted.
“Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria had earlier provided the Ministry of Agriculture with over 2.1 million bags of various fertilizers for distribution to the states. This is also ongoing.
“The Federal Government will do everything in its power to ensure more food for our people. Investments in the agriculture sector are increasing and you are also aware that the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development announced by the President will soon commence operations.
“These are some of the steps and discussions that took place at today’s Federal Executive Council meeting. We hope that the Council will continue next week.”
