By Chioma Akabuogu
President Muhammadu Buhari, in line with his nine-point agenda has approved the emergency release of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve Stock(NSRS) to the displaced and the vulnerable in Taraba State.
In his Keynote address at the distribution flag off in Taraba State, Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Transportation, Mua’azu Jaji Sambo stated that the initiative is to impact Nigerians across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sambo noted that the prices of food commodities which have skyrocketed in recent times, is global and Nigeria is not an exception to this phenomenon.
“The World Bank’s food commodity price index shows 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. The factors responsible include but are not limited to: climate change, the effect of the Covid 19 pandemic, civil unrests, recurrent farmer-herders crises, mass rural-urban migration, declining food production, and strain on the demand-supply chain,” Sambo said.
He said in the light of the foregoing and in tandem with one of the nine-point agenda of this administration which is social inclusion, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the emergency release of assorted food commodities from the NSRS, to the displaced and the vulnerable in our society, poultry associations of Nigeria and feed millers.
“This programme is 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,” he said, stressing “The well-being of Nigerians has always been and will continue to be President Buhari’s priority.”
In order to facilitate the effective and judicial distribution and management of the commodities, A six -man committee of eminently trustworthy and reliable men and women has been constituted , to ensure that this goal is achieved to the satisfaction of all so that it will result in an exercise the President will be proud of.
The committee is made up of the following people:
Alh. Muhammad Adamu Jalingo-drom,Taraba State,Chairman; Mr Apolos Jediel – State Organizing Secretary, APC, Taraba State; member/Secretary, Deborah Sentima – Zonal Woman Leader, South, APC, Taraba State; Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Audu , Nafiu Muhammed – State Disable Leader, APC Taraba and Hon. Amila Apolos.
They were given one week to complete the assignment and report back to the presidency.
