President Buhari orders release of 40,000 tons of grains for Easter, Sallah celebrations

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate release of 40,000 metric tons of varied grains from the Strategic Grains Reserve to help less privileged Nigerians celebrate Easter and Sallah.

Alhaji Muhammed Mahmood, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, disclosed this to newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mahmood, who said he was summoned by the president and told to distribute the commodities to the affected people, expressed hope that the activity would also help to mitigate the consequences of the market’s high grain prices.

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development would receive 12,000 of the 40,000 tons designated for distribution to internally displaced persons across the country.

In his words, “I’m here this afternoon as a result of a summoning by Mr President.

“He directed and approved the release of grains from our Strategic Grains Reserve by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“This is to cushion the effect of some of the issues we are facing with high prices of commodities across the country.

“It is to make the grains affordable for people to celebrate the festivities — Ramadan, Easter and Sallah.

“We’ll also be giving some of the grains to the ministry of humanitarian affairs, to also do the distribution.

“The grains are coming from our Strategic Grains Reserve as directed by Mr President.’’

The minister revealed that the same process used during the COVID-19 lock down in 2020, to distribute 70,000 metric tons of assorted food items across some states and the Federal Capital Territory would be used in distributing the grains.

(NAN)