- Governor Ahmad Aliyu said the current economic hardship was not peculiar to Nigeria but a global challenge.
- He commended Tinubu for the gesture and the choice of Sokoto to flag off the exercise.
The federal government says it has began distribution of relief items to vulnerable people in Sokoto.
The items distributed are 26,404 bags of maize, millet and sorghum.
Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, who flagged-off the distribution on Sunday said it’s objective was to ease the economic hardship experienced by citizens in the state.
NAN reports that the event was witnessed by Aliyu Abdullahi, minister of state for agriculture and food security, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, Aliyu Wamakko, former governor of Sokoto.
On March 20, the federal government commenced distribution of 42,000 tons of grains
Kyari stated that the exercise was in fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to mitigate the hardship experienced across the country, adding that gesture would cover all the 36 states of the federation and FCT.
“It is also in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President as he rightly approved the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food from the National Strategic Reserve,” the minister said.
He commended President Tunibu for the gesture and the choice of Sokoto to flagg-off the exercise.
Speaking at the event, Ahmad Alyiu, governor of Sokoto lauded the president’s gesture and its decision to begin distribution in his state.
The governor noted that the current economic turn down was a global challenge and not peculiar Nigeria alone.
Aliyu reassured the federal government of strict adherence to distribution guidelines, urging committee members to ensure judicious item distribution, and pledged to provide more support to alleviate hardship.
In her remarks, Zubaida Umar, director general of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said that based on the allocation table, the state would receive 10,120 bags of maize, 11,960 bags of sorghum and 4,324 bags of millet.
“Based on the directives of Mr President, 20 per cent of the food items due for each LGA should be given to religious organisations and three per cent to boarding schools in the local government areas,” she said.
“Distribution committees were established in each LGA, made up of the Chairman of the LGA, State Emergency Management Agency and a traditional ruler.”
Umar added that membership of the committee included representatives of Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Faith-Based Organisations and Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees.
Others were; Nigerian Red Cross Society, Women Associations, Persons With Disability Groups, Youth Associations, Principals of Boarding Schools, Civil Society Organisations and the media.
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