Release food items to states immediately, Shettima orders NEMA

Release food items to states immediately, Shettima orders NEMA

The National Economic Council (NEC) led by Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately distribute food items including grains to states to bring down prices of food items across the country.

The decision was taken at the NEC meeting chaired by the Vice President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State made the disclosure while briefing newsmen after the meeting.

The governor said that Shettima directed NEMA to release the grains immediately, adding that states would be involved in the distribution mechanism.

Mohammed, who expressed concern over the high prices of food items, noted that food was a key component of what was considered by the council.
He said, “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 food stuff, 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 food stuff 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 also said states would be at liberty to give out the grains at subsidized rate or free of charge.