The Federal Government has handed over about 37,000 bags of assorted food commodities to the Borno government for onward distribution to vulnerable people to cushion the effect of the high cost of food in the country.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, represented by Borno NEMA Zonal Coordinator, Yakubu Suleiman, handed over the items to the state government in Maiduguri on Monday.
Zubaida said that the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the release of 42,000MT of assorted food.
She added that as a strategic reserve under the custody of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMoA&FS), the assorted food commodities include maize, millet, sorghum, and garri.
She added that Borno state has been allocated 594 metric tonnes of Maize, 252 metric tonnes of Millet and 9,972 metric tonnes of sorghum (bags of 50kg).
In his speech, Borno governor, Babagana Zulum, commended the federal government for the gesture and promised to distribute the commodities given to the state judiciously.
“I want to acknowledge the 37 bags of 50kg assorted grains received by the Federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. On behalf of the most vulnerable population of Borno, I wish to appreciate the Federal government for its continued support towards the vulnerable population.
“I want to assure Mr President, the Minister of Agriculture and NEMA that the food will be distributed to the most vulnerable population and no diversion will be found.
Zulum also commended the Federal government for all the other support that it has been rendering to the state noting that apart from food items, it has been receiving support to strengthen the resilience of the displaced populations.
Earlier in his welcome remarks at the occasion, the Director General of Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Muhammed Barkindo, said priority will be given to female-headed and ill-health households as well as persons with disability.
Items donated include 11,880 bags of maize, 19,440 bags of sorghum and 5,130 bags of millet.
