FG sets to distribute free grain to vulnerable Nigerians, aide to President Tinubu declares

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through its Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, says it is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to cushion the effects of the economic downturn, especially among the vulnerable population.

It declared that grains in seven locations of strategic reserve are now being bagged for onward delivery to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

This was disclosed in an update to ramp up food supply by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Onanuga declared that the food would be distributed without payment when eventually bagged in various sizes for distribution.

He added that the grain will be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice Millers.

The media aide to President Tinubu quoted the Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, saying that prices of food commodities have dropped significantly in grain markets across Nigeria.

According to Onanuga, the Federal Government is also ramping up food production by boosting dry season farming under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project.

The first phase of dry-season farming was launched in November 2023.

Phase 2 of dry season farming will commence soon, across all 36 states of Nigeria and FCT.

Additionally, solar-powered water pumps for irrigation, provided by the Federal Government, are being deployed to aid the upcoming phase of the programme.

The farming will cover rice, maize, and cassava.

He stressed that various governors are showing strong support, to further enhance the subsidy.