The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has advised individuals and groups interested in distributing palliatives to work with security agencies to ensure an orderly process.
Abubakar Kyari described the death of about 60 citizens during Christmas rice sharing in Okija, Anambra State, Ibadan, Oyo State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as unfortunate.
In a statement on Monday, Kyari consoled the families of the victims. He assured that the government was working to ensure food security for the country.
“I wish to express my heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the victims and families affected by the tragic stampede during the recent rice distribution events in Abuja, Anambra, and Oyo States. 
“I am deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident, which has resulted in injuries and, tragically, the loss of lives. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, and I extend my support to the families grieving during this difficult time.
“I strongly urge individuals and organizations involved in food distribution to collaborate with security agencies to ensure effective crowd management and prevent such incidents in the future. Together, we must take all necessary measures to safeguard the lives and dignity of our people.
“In moments like this, I am reminded of the resilience of our communities. Let us honour the memories of those we have lost by working together to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies,” he said.
The Minister of Agriculture promised that 2025 would be a year of bumper harvest as President Bola Tinubu was committed to providing quality and affordable food to all Nigerians.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, this government is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry. The President has reiterated his dedication to improving food security and providing access to quality and affordable food for all Nigerians.
“At the Ministry, we are fully aligned with this vision. We are actively supporting our farmers by reducing production costs as part of our strategy to combat food inflation and increase agricultural productivity.
“Currently, under the 2024-2025 dry season farming initiative, approximately 280,000 farmers are benefiting from government subsidies designed to scale up production. Through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Accelerated Programme (NAGS-AP), we are providing a 75 percent discount on essential farming inputs, including fertilizers, chemicals, and seeds,” he stated.
Kyari continued, “We remain committed to implementing sustainable solutions to enhance food security and improve the livelihoods of our citizens. Let us work together to build a nation where every Nigerian has access to nutritious food, and where such tragedies become a thing of the past.”
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