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President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive for the distribution of grains to Abuja residents to ameliorate the hardship being faced by the people.
Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, made this known, yesterday, when she inaugurated a strategic committee for emergency distribution of grains to residents of Abuja.
The rising wave of hardship in the land has sparked protests across the country. The presidential directive came barely four days after a warehouse belonging to the FCT Administration was invaded and looted by hungry residents.
The minister said committee has less than two weeks to conclude its assignment. According to her, the distribution would be done through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“Yesterday, we received this letter from the Presidency through the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA and we all know that some few days ago we were at Gwagwa where our warehouses were attacked by some youths in that area and then all we have there have been packed including the roofing, the gates and everything, and machineries that we used to make some of the food that we were keeping there.
“So, along that way, God Almighty has given us a solution. Everybody knows how Mr President, Bola Tinubu has been going up and down to see how he will cushion the hardship in the country, especially the issue of food security, we have been having meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture to get a lot that we have to distribute to people, to tell us how Mr President has us in his heart.
“So, the Honourable Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, was addressed through this letter to call an important meeting with important stakeholders that were highlighted. They are here to see that we arrange some committees for transparency in distribution of these palliatives that we are about to get, and then the preparation that we need to have before these items are given to FCT for distribution.
“This is the reason that we called for this meeting. When we received the letter it was saying that it has to be handled in two weeks, so the two weeks from the day we received the letter, and we received this letter on the 29th of February, we have already taken one out of it, before the two weeks, FCT will be able to submit all that is required from us.”
She expressed disappointment with the area council chairmen for treating the invitation to the maiden stakeholders’ meeting with levity.
Mahmoud warned the chairmen against any act that would sabotage the good intention of the president towards the residents of the territory.
Chairman of the FCT Traditional Rulers, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, assured the minister of the support of traditional leaders.
Members of the committee include the Chairmen of the six Area Councils and the FCT, representative of the FCT Emergency Management Agency, traditional rulers, Department of State Service, and Nigeria Police Force,
Other representatives were from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, faith-based organisations, National Union of Local Government Employees, Nigeria Red Cross Society, and women, and youth groups.
Also represented in the committee are Persons Living with Disabilities, principals of boarding schools, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the media.
