President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday in Abuja allayed fears that there could be food shortage in the country as a result of the devastating flooding which washed off many farmlands.<\/p>\n
The President spoke at the Presidential Villa when the Nigerian Muslim community, led by Vice President Namadi Sambo, paid him Sallah homage.<\/p>\n
“Let me use this unique opportunity to tell all Nigerians that people should not be afraid that there will be hunger in the land.<\/p>\n
“I have been getting some reports that some people who are so selfish are already trying to hoard grains. We have enough grains in our strategic reserve that will serve this country.<\/p>\n
“Also, the percentage of flooded farmlands is not enough to threaten food security. We will publish the figures later from satellite imagery.<\/p>\n
“Nigerians should not be afraid that the flooding that happened in some parts of the country will cause hunger. We have enough grains that will reduce the stress in the market.<\/p>\n
“Those already hoarding will be doing so to their own disadvantage because by the time they bring out their grains, the price will collapse.<\/p>\n
“Let me use this opportunity to plead with those people not to do things that are not in the best interest of our people,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
The president called on all religious leaders, and Nigerians in general, to pray for the peace and unity of the nation.<\/p>\n
He said his administration was working hard to confront the challenges and adversity facing the country with a view to converting them to advantages.<\/p>\n
Jonathan re-assured that the ugly incidence at Mecca where some Nigerian female pilgrims were deported because they were not accompanied by men would not recur.<\/p>\n
“From investigation, there were some administrative lapses on our part and I have directed that such things must not be allowed to happen so that we will not be embarrassed,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
The president used the opportunity to condole with the people of Taraba over Thursday\u2019s plane crash involving the state governor, Danbaba Suntai.<\/p>\n
He said the federal government was happy that the governor was in stable condition and arrangements were being made to get him proper treatment.<\/p>\n
Earlier, in his remarks, Sambo said he led the delegation to the president\u2019s residence to pay respect and extend sincere greetings and felicitation.<\/p>\n
Sambo prayed for wisdom and good health for the president as he steered the affairs of the country.<\/p>\n
Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide who led the FCT residents to the event, felicitated with the president on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.<\/p>\n
She also expressed greetings to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on her 55th birthday.(NAN)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday in Abuja allayed fears that there could be food shortage in the country as a result of the devastating flooding which washed off many farmlands.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n