Grains are reportedly still awaiting distribution to Nigerians, even two weeks after President Bola Tinubu issued a directive to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Following President Tinubu’s directive two weeks ago, instructing the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to release 42,000 metric tons of maize, millet, and other commodities from the national strategic reserve to the public, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced plans to distribute the grains for free to impoverished Nigerians. However, as of yesterday, February 21, the grains had not yet been made available for distribution.
Reports from various states, including Kano, Kwara, Taraba, Gombe, Ogun, Niger, Oyo, Cross River, Benue, Bauchi, Yobe, Kogi, and Nasarawa, indicated that the federal government had not yet released food items to them.
An official from the Ministry of Agriculture cited data authentication as the reason for the delay, aiming to prevent mistakes made during previous distribution exercises. He mentioned ongoing inter-agency meetings to ensure that the grains reach the intended recipients without complications.
Despite assurances from government officials, concerns have been raised about the adequacy of the national grain reserve. Some suggest that importing grains may be necessary to address current food shortages. Nigeria has 33 silos with a total capacity of 1.3 million metric tons for its Strategic Grain Reserve system, although a significant portion of these silos has been concessioned to the private sector.
The Ministry has refrained from disclosing detailed information about the contents of the national strategic grain reserve silos, citing national security considerations.
