The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu Monday inaugurated two committees on the distribution of grains and committee on the sales of fertilisers and other agro-chemical inputs in the nation’s capital.
This, she said is in fulfillment of the Administration’s desire to ensure governance serves the people and to address food security,
While inaugurating the 13-man committees in Abuja, the minister said that the events are in fulfilment of the administration’s desire to ensure that governance serves the people.
The minister who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Prof. Muhammad Usman, stated the terms of reference of the committees to includes: “to determine available stock and work out modalities for the sales, and to arrange for the flag-off and subsequent sales of the fertilisers, pesticides and agro-chemicals”.
She, however, charged the committee members to work diligently to ensure that the exercise meet its objective, warning that the committees ensure that “grains are released from warehouses, and made available to the residents of the territory in a manner that is free, in a manner that is fair and in a manner that is transparent”.
According to her; “I have on behalf of the entire FCT Administration led by Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the singular honour and privilege to welcome those of you from the Area Councils to this event. This morning activities and events are in fulfillment of the administration’s desire to ensure that governance serves the people and that in the true spirit of democracy, governance should be people’s oriented.
“As you are aware, it is an annual ritual practice, that the administration buys off excess harvest from our farmers, therefore, giving them value for their efforts and labour at the end of the season. And before the new harvest, when prices naturally on the increase because of reduce supply in the market, the administration releases the buffer stocks to ensure that prices are regulated if not drastically lower, for the benefit of the residents of the territory.
“This morning, in the wisdom of the administration, individuals have been carefully selected to be saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring that the exercise meet its objective. That grains are released from warehouses, and made available to the residents of the territory in a manner that is free, in a manner that is fair and in a manner that is transparent”.
The minister also stated that the administration would be counting on the wisdom, and the ability of the committee members to diligently discharge those responsibilities.
Speaking on behalf of the committees, both chairmen of the two committees, Mr. Abdul Agbade, who chairs committee on grains distribution, and Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, who chairs committee on fertilisers and other agro-chemicals respectively pledged their willingness to deliver on their mandates.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank the Honourable Minister of State FCT for the confidence reposed in us and will not toy with it. We will try as much as possible to discharge our responsibilities with the fear of God and in accordance with our terms of reference.
“Residents of the FCT need to be assisted in this trying times. We are just coming out of COVID-19 pandemic and everybody knows the crisis we are facing in food security. The prices of food stuffs are going up in the market and the people need to be assisted. We will do our best to ensure that these grains are sold to the people in need,” he assured.
