Food security: FCTA reassures resolve to make grains ‘affordable’ for residents

By Stanley Onyekwere

To help cushion effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCT Administration has reiterated its resolve to ensure improved access to grains at affordable rates for residents of the Territory.
Making this point, the Acting Secretary, FCT Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, Mr. Ibe Chukwuemeka, at the flag-off ceremony of this year’s buffer stock programme, said FCTA remains determined to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on residents as far as food supply was concerned.
Chukwuemeka, who was represented by the Director, Agricultural Services in the Secretariat, Dr. Nkem Akanegbu disclosed that the Buffer Stock is a programme that is practiced globally aimed at ensuring the availability of grains all year round to the public at affordable rates.
A statement from by Deputy Director in charge of Public Relations at the ARDS, Zakari Aliyu that the director applauded the efforts of the Administration to empower the youth and women through Agriculture.
The statement said the ARDS boss called on residents who are interested in purchasing the grains to visit all the FCT Agric Stores located in the Area Councils, appealing to them to be orderly and abide by the Covid 19 safety protocols.
On the price of the grains, it disclosed that a bag of 50kg maize will be sold at N3,000.00 same as 50kg bag of Guinea corn, while a 10kg bag of Corn Flour goes for N1,500.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Akoshi of Jiwa Hakimi Muhammad, who represented the Emir of Jiwa thanked the FCT Administration for the gesture that will reduce prevailing hunger in the land.