The Federal Government has released 1,287 metric tonnes of maize and 132 metric tonnes of gari to the Oyo State government for distribution to vulnerable members of the society.
Zubaida Umar, the director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), handed over the food items to the state government, on behalf of the Federal Government, on Monday, in Ibadan.
Umar, who was represented by the Southwest zonal coordinator of NEMA, Adewale Stephen, said the gesture was to provide the necessary support to cushion the economic hardship.
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“Mr President approved the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve under the custody of the federal ministry of agriculture and food security,” she said.
Umar said that 1,287 metric tonnes of maize (25,740 in 50kg bags) and 132 metric tonnes of garri (5,280 in 25kg bags) were allocated to Oyo State, and would be shared equally to all the LGAs in the state.
The NEMA boss urged the respective committees assigned the task of distribution to follow the guidelines and template put in place.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, emphasised the significance of the gesture in providing immediate relief and support to vulnerable groups.
Makinde said that the distribution of food items had been structured in a way that it would reach targeted vulnerable communities, both in urban and rural areas of the state.
The governor called on the local government chairmen to ensure that the committee assigned the task of distribution of the food items in their respective councils, strictly adhered to the distribution template.
He said that the distribution of the food items would be a test of transparency on the part of the new executive chairmen across the 33 LGAs.
The governor equally highlighted the proactive measures taken by his administration to enhance social protection frameworks.
He reiterated his unwavering commitment to sustainable development goals and stressed the imperative of building resilient communities through targeted interventions and strategic partnership and collaboration.
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Makinde further emphasised the importance of collaboration towards bringing an end to the security challenges, especially in some parts of the state that are largely agrarian, such as Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso and Oyo geopolitical zones.
He added that without collective efforts, it would be impossible to achieve the desired results in the fight against criminal elements such as kidnappers, bandits, and armed robbers.
Timothy Oyedokun, chairman of Ogbomoso South local government, who spoke on behalf of others, commended the collaboration between the state and Federal Government in the provision of food items.
Oyedokun promised that the distribution guideline and template would not be compromised in the distribution process.
