The Federal Government of Nigeria has donated a total of 5000 metric tonnes of sorghum to the Republic of Chad to cushion the effect of the acute food shortage the country experienced late last year due to inadequate rainfall.
The official handing-over of the grains and flag-off of distribution was performed today in Njadmena, the Chadian Capital by the Nigeria,s Minister of State for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alh. Bukar Tijani on behalf of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
In his goodwill message read by the minister of state, President Jonathan observed that the gesture was in response to the call made by the Extra-Ordinary Council of Ministers of Agriculture convened by ECOWAS in Lome, Togo in May, 2010 for countries in the sub-region to assist Chad, Niger and Mali which were badly affected by draught and poor harvest.
President Jonathan stressed that Nigeria as a friendly neighbour and big brother must continue to show goodwill and leadership to sister African countries especially in their hour of need, noting that Nigeria had extended similar gesture to Niger Republic early in the year with the donation of 10,000 metric tonnes of sorghum.
He also used the opportunity to congratulate President Idris Deby on his re-election as president and conveyed the goodwill message of Nigerians to the good people of the Republic of Chad on the successful conduct of the general elections globally hailed as free and fair.
Expressing the gratitude of the government and the good people of Chad Republic, Mr. Ahmat Rakis Manani, the Chadian Minister of Agriculture who formally received the donation on behalf of President Deby and the good people of Chad thanked the Federal Government of Nigeria for the kind gesture adding that it will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the Chadian government in providing succour to her citizens.
Mr. Manani also extended the goodwill message of President Idris Deby and the people of Chad to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Nigerians on the successful conduct of the recent elections in Nigeria.
In attendance at the brief ceremony were the Nigeria’s Ambassador to Chad Republic,His Excellency, Abdullahi Omaki and the Chadian Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Mahmat Bechir Niam and the Director General of the National Food Reserve of the Republic of Chad, Ali Adoum-Jorou and his Nigerian counterpart, Engr. Abdulazeez Kolo amongst other top officials from both countries.
