The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of the 42,000 metric tons of assorted grains promised by President Bola Tinubu as part of his administration’s relief package for Nigerians.
The president had on February 8 directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to distribute the grains from the nation’s strategic reserves as well as 60,000 metric tons of rice from Rice Millers Association as a short-term response to rising food shortage in the country.
The distribution was confirmed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who briefed reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Tinubu.
Kyari, who did not give details on the distribution for security reasons, said the ministry is working with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other security outfits to address the vandalism of food warehouses across the country.
He said: “We are distributing to state capitals in the first instance. You are aware of the vandalisation of foodstuff. So, we are working with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other national security agencies.
“Distribution has commenced. However, I do not want to comment on the security aspect of the distribution. I can assure you that we have started distributing in the northwestern states, and we are distributing out of seven points”, he said.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who also spoke at the briefing, said his ministry was in the process of raising a $2 billion fund to achieve interconnectivity of the entire country through fibre optic network.
He said, the programme would cover a stretch of 120,000 kilometres of fiber optic cables.
Tijani said the programme would make use of existing facilities in the communications sector to address the challenges facing the country, including insecurity.
He said: “So, the first thing we’re doing which is being pushed by Mr. President, is leveraging existing infrastructure that we have within NIGCOMSAT, which is the satellite company.
“Most of you know that Nigeria is the only country in West Africa with a satellite, but also leveraging the fibre network of Galaxy Backbone to deploy connectivity to all the 774 local government Secretariat. Those who are following that project, which was announced about two or three weeks ago, would also see that we’ve actually started the connectivity.
“A number of local government secretariats in Kogi State are now connected, a number in Zamfara are being connected this week and a number in Imo State are being connected this week. In the next six months, our goal is to reach, at least, eight of the states within the country to demonstrate the pilot and the goal is to take it from there and cover the entire country.
“We believe that if these local government secretariats are connected, because they’re the closest form of government, to our people, that we can help them use technology to serve the people better, but also it can enhance security significantly as well.”
Tijani added: “The second thing we’re doing, which the President has backed is actually now investment in extending our backbone for connectivity. Again, what drives connectivity in any country is the fibre optic network.
“This is the biggest foundation for connectivity. Nigeria is projected to invest in 120,000 kilometres of fiber optic cable to be able to cover the entire country. The minutes were at about 35,000 kilometres that 5000 kilometres.”
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