FG to flag off grain distribution on Friday

…As price of Garri surges by 108% — Report

The Federal Government of Nigeria will on Friday flag-off the distribution of free grains to farmers.

The flag-off expected to hold in Niger state is part of the palliative measures deployed by the Federal Government to tackle food inflation.

Frustrated by the hardship occasioned by soaring food prices and cost of services, Nigerians have in recent times looted warehouses and engaged in demonstration of protests to communicate their woes.

Speaking at the maiden ministerial briefing, Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security revealed that the distribution of 42,000 metric tons of assorted grains like maize, sorghum, millet and garri, will begin in Niger State as a pilot state for the distribution, with the support of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Armed Forces, Police Force and other security agencies.

Meanwhile, a report across major markets has revealed that the average price of a 50kg bag of yellow garri surged by 108 percent from an average of N18,000 in December 2023 to N37,500 in March 2024.

“A 4-litre paint container measure of yellow garri now sells for an average of N2,500 as against N1,200 sold in December 2023, while a 50kg bag of white garri sells at N35,000 as against N17,000 sold in December 2023, indicating a 105 percent increase in price,” the report stated.