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Jonathan Sends Food To States Under Emergency Rule

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Over 25,000 metric tons of assorted food be released from the strategic grains reserves of the FG to the … Continue reading Jonathan Sends Food To States Under Emergency Rule


President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Over 25,000 metric tons of assorted food be released from the strategic grains reserves of the FG to the three states affected by the state of Emergency.

This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama to newsmen in Damaturu.

According to Mr Ngama, the directive follows the appeal by him and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Tijani Bukar to the president over the suffering of the people of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa owing to the state of emergency imposed on the states.

Mr Ngama explained that the insecurity has caused untold hardship on the people with the restriction of movement which has reduced farming activities in the states hence the intervention of the federal government.

He disclosed that 25,000 metric tons of food translates to 930 trailer loads of food stuff  which is over half a million bags of maize, millet and guinea corn.

The minister further explained that because of the large quantity of food required, it will be released in batches.

In the first batch, a total of 399 bags of 665 trailer loads will be released to the three states.

Borno state which is the largest and worse hit in the insurgency will take 324 trailers, while Yobe will get 195 trailers and Adamawa 170 trailer loads.

Mr Ngama also announced that the President had given another approval for the sum of N250 million for the purchase of rice, cooking oil and other accessories to be distributed in the states.

In Yobe state for instance, Mr Ngama explained that all the 178 wards will be given a trailer load of food while the remaining will be shared to civil servants, police, army and other organizations in the state.

He advised the people not to politicize the gesture of the president but see it as an act of God

“We are giving this food not because we are PDP but because of God. I am calling on all the people of my state to come and collect the food. It does not matter whether you are PDP or any other political party. Nobody will discriminate in the sharing of the food”, the minister announced.

He noted that all security agencies with Aid groups will be involved to ensure a hitch free distribution of the food, and thanked the president for the gesture.

“This is an unprecedented initiative by the president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I have not heard in history where this amount of food was released to any part of Nigeria in the past.

“The people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa will remain grateful to Mr. President for his kindness and gesture to ameliorate  their sufferings”, he said.