The National Economic Council (NEC) has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately distribute grains to states within one or two weeks to bring down the price of food items across the country.

Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State disclosed while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the NEC meeting, chaired by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

The governor said that Shettima directed NEMA to release the grains immediately, adding that states would be involved in the mechanism.

Mohammed, who expressed concern over the high prices of food items, noted that food was a key component of what was considered by the council.

“The National Economic Council (NEC) discussed giving broader interventions to all the sectors and all the segments of the society.

“Food is a key component of what is on the table in terms of food security. On the escalation of prices of foodstuff, we are happy because NEC has seriously engaged with NEMA, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and indeed with the Ministry of Agriculture.

“We have some buffer stock that is already there with NEMA, so the council directed that the states will immediately be allocated substantial portions of food items, grains, and so on for distribution so that the prices of foodstuff will come down.

“These grains will be given at subsidized rates or at the rates they were acquired. The CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme and its Agric. program have ensured a large stock of rice and other grains. These will be made available within one week so that they will be distributed to the states.”