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‘Ibadan grain reserve empty’

By Rotimi Agboluaje, Ibadan 
06 April 2020   |   3:29 am
The National Strategic Grains Reserve Complex, located along Iwo Road, Ibadan, in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, has become the shadow of itself.

Grain farm. Photo: PIXABAY

The National Strategic Grains Reserve Complex, located along Iwo Road, Ibadan, in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, has become the shadow of itself.

For years now, the reserve complex has not been in operation. About two years ago, when The Guardian visited the place, it looked deserted. But now, no one is allowed to go beyond the gate of the facility.

However, sources told The Guardian that the place does not belong to the Federal Government but leased by Flour Mill of Nigeria since September 2019.

One of the sources around the facility said: “Flour Mill of Nigeria has acquired it since September 2019. It is under repair now.  Before the acquisition, this facility was last used in 2013. It has been abandoned since then. That is Nigeria for you. We have a lot of silos in the country not working.’’

The Zonal Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, (Southwest), Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, however, said the country has enough grains to last for the certain period of time, pointing out that logistics on how to get the food to Nigerians is the only challenge.

He said: “All the silos are stocked across the country. We have concessioned the silos. Of course, private people are stocking the silos. It is not the availability of food that matters now. It is the logistics to get it across to people that need it. We have enough food in the country to last for that period, but the problem will be logistics.

“Every state in the Southwest has silos. Normally, I’m not in that department, but what we stock are grains and garri. That of Osun State is located in Ilesa and that of Ondo State is in Akure. The Ekiti State own is ongoing.”

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