The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has handed over 17,424 bags of assorted grains to the Edo State Government as part of palliative measures to cushion the adverse effects of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government on the people of the State.
BusinessDay reports that the assorted grains which measured 786.6 metric tonnes are made up of maize and garri.
Zubaida Umar, the NEMA Director General, who handed over the food items to the State Government in Benin City, said it was aimed at cushioning the effect of high cost of food items in the Country on the vulnerable.
Umar said the items are made up of 14,040 of 50kg bags of Maize and 3,384 of 25kg bags of Garri.
The NEMA boss, represented by Walson Brandon Ibarakumo, the Acting Director NEMA South-South Zone, said the grains and garri were handed over to the State Government for onward distribution to the vulnerable in the State.
He explained that the items were in fulfillment of President Bola Tinibu’s promise to reduce the impact of the current economic downturn being experienced in the Country in line with his government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Today, we are here to handover 786.6 metric tones of food items such as maize and garri to the Edo state government for onward distribution to identify deserving vulnerable Nigerians in the communities through constituted committees in each of the Local Government.
“The membership of the committee are made up of chairman of local government, state emergency management agency, traditional ruler, security agents, faith-based organizations, Nigerian union of local government employees, Red Cross Society, women associations, persons with disability among others.
“Based on the directives of Mr President, 20 percent of the food items for each local government should be given to religious organizations while three percent should be to given to boarding schools”, he said.
Receiving the items on behalf of the State Government, Kingsley Uwagbale, Commissioner for Public Security and Safety, who commended the Federal Government and NEMA for the gesture, assured the Federal Government that the items would reach the targeted beneficiaries.
