The National Economic Council (NEC) has mandated the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to distribute grains to states across the country to bring down the price of food items.
Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed made this known while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the NEC meeting.
The meeting was chaired by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
Governor Bala said that Vice president has mandated NEMA to release the grains immediately to states across the country, stressing that states would be involved in the mechanism.
Mr Bala, who explicted concern over the high prices of food items, stated that food was a key component of what was considered by the council.
In his statement:“The National Economic Council (NEC) discussed giving broader interventions to all the sectors and all the segments of the society.
“Food is a key component of what is on the table in terms of food security. On the escalation of prices of foodstuff, we are happy because NEC has seriously engaged with NEMA, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and indeed with the Ministry of Agriculture.
“We have some buffer stock that is already there with NEMA, so council directed that the states will immediately be allocated substantial portions of food items, grains and so on for distribution so that the prices of foodstuff will come down.
“These grains will be given at subsidized rates or at the rates they were acquired. The CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme and its agric programme have ensured a large stock of rice and other grains. These will be made available within one week so that they will be distributed to the states.”
He said that states are at liberty to give out the grains at subsidized rates, or free of charge.
“Across the sectors of the economy, public and civil servants and even farmers will benefit maximally. Again as I said, NEMA has lots of stock which it will also bring out so that this particular aspect of food security can cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on all Nigerians.
“This will be done within one or two weeks. In terms of the quantity of the grains that will be distributed, I just learnt from the acting CBN Governor that they have more than 25,200 metric tonnes of grains and almost equivalent number of bags of fertilizer that will be distributed within the time frame.
The governor disclosed that NEC had established a robust agreement that states and local governments would be involved in the distribution of the grains.
He said that the council had recognised the need for transparency in the distribution of the grains, assuring that all members of the society would be involved in the exercise across board
“The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Community-Based Organisations and everybody will be involved because the states are involved and of course, at the end of the day, you will see that these things will reach the target,” he noted.
