64,715 households to get FG palliatives in Niger

A total of 64,715 households are to benefit from the federal government’s palliatives in Niger State.

The Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammadu A Muhammed, disclosed this in Minna on Tuesday while handing over the items to the state government.

Muhammed, who was represented by the Acting Director, Relief & Rehabilitation Department, Dr. Bandele Onimode, said he was in the state to present assorted grains from the National Food Reserve, approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for distribution to vulnerable persons affected by the recent restriction of movement to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The food items, according to him were 1, 490.36 tons of maize, 1,557.6 tons of sorghum and 1, 8708 tons of millet.

He also disclosed that the state has benefitted from an emergency agricultural intervention programme which was approved by the president in 2019.

"It commenced with the verification of affected farmers and was immediately followed by the distribution of farm inputs. The inputs already distributed comprised of seeds/seedlings, agrochemicals and knapsack sprayers. A total of 12, 242 farmers were verified and are expected to benefit from the final phase of the intervention which is fertilizer.’’

He urged the state government to take necessary measures to address the recurring incidents of flooding through public enlightenment campaigns and preparing for the evacuation to safe ground, of those affected.

The deputy governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, thanked the president for the prompt intervention.

He appealed to the federal government to assist the state to carry out massive dry season farming to mitigate for the loss suffered by farmers during the flooding.