Buhari Orders Release of 40,000 Tons of Grains to Less-privileged Families for Easter, Sallah Festivities

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate release of 40,000 metric tons of assorted grains from the Strategic Grains Reserve, to assist less-privileged Nigerians to celebrate the forthcoming Easter and Sallah festivities.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammed Mahmood, made the announcement when he briefed State House Correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday.

Mahmood, who said he was summoned by the president and directed to disburse the commodities to the affected people, expressed his optimism that the exercise would also cushion the effects of high prices of grains in the market.

According to him, 12,000 out of the 40,000 approved tons will be allocated to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development by the ministry for distribution to internally-displaced persons across the country.

The minister revealed that the same process used during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, to distribute 70,000 metric tons of assorted food items across some states and the Federal Capital Territory would be used in distributing the grains.

“If you remember very well, during the COVID pandemic, Mr President also directed and approved the release of grains.”