Bashir Maidugu on Presentation of Report of the Grains Committee to the HMS (Power) Hon. Mohammed Wakil

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN, AD HOC COMMITTEE ON FACT FINDING WITH RESPECT TO THE 2013 PRESIDENTIAL RELIEF MATERIALS TO BORNO STATE Hon Minister of State, (Power) Hon Barr. Mohammed Wakil, O.O.N, The Permanent Secretary and Ministry officials, fellow committee members, gentlemen of the press including ladies, in 2013, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR graciously approved about 650 trucks of various grains for disbursement to the states where state of emergency were declared as a result of the incessant insurgency. This humanitarian gesture was aimed at cushioning the hardships being faced by the innocent population in those states most of whom are farmers. For the last couple of years, farming activities especially in Borno and Yobe states have virtually come to a halt. These relief items were therefore timely. The then Hon Minister representing Borno state, M. Bukar Tijani exited the Federal Executive Council towards the end of August 2013. The distribution exercise was thus halted in the case of Borno. In conjunction with the former Minister of State, Finance, Dr. Yerima L. Ngama, and the Hon Minister of Women Affairs from Adamawa, the three Ministers were placed with the responsibility of distribution of the relief materials to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states respectively. Following the long absence of an anchorman for Borno with respect to the grains and the subsequent emergence of Hon Mohammed Wakil as a Minister representing Borno state in the Federal cabinet, the new minister decided to constitute this fact finding team about four weeks ago for the following reasons: a) Ascertaining the actual quantity of grains allocated to Borno State b) Ascertain the mode of distribution and the number of trucks allocated to the state. c) Ascertain the actual number of trucks delivered to Borno State d) Ascertain the outstanding grains for Borno State still at the silos. e) Recommend suitable action for future improvements on similar exercises. The contents of the documents being submitted to you here today Hon Minister Sir, is the detail of the above terms of reference. In the discharge of our responsibilities therefore, we tried to limit our investigation to only Borno State. This investigation is very important for two reasons: (1) For accountability purposes, so that the new minister will know exactly what he is taking over and (2) It will plug flaws discovered during the exercise in subsequent assignments. Sir, with the submission of this report, we hope that the purposes of setting up this committee is largely achieved. Finally, Hon Minister, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I mentioned earlier that in the last three years, farming activities were practically brought to a halt in those states. The committee hereby requests the Honourable Minister to plead with the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR to consider allocating at least 1,000 trucks this year to the emergency states of the North East in order to avoid famine. Already, food items have skyrocketed in those areas. There are reports of drought in the neighboring Niger republic this year. In Borno State for example, most surrounding villages and towns around Maiduguri have virtually become ghost settlements as their inhabitants have migrated to Maiduguri. This has starved the city with traditional supply of food items and other essential commodities. We must state here that Maiduguri infrastructure is overstretched. The magnanimity of Mr. President last year is commendable as the purpose of the strategic grains reserve programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been achieved. The committee hereby wishes to express its profound gratitude to the Honourable Minister of State (Power), Hon mohammed Wakil, O.O.N for the opportunity to serve our people in this capacity. It is our hope and fervent prayer that subsequent exercises will be seamless and successful. Thank you all. Barr. Bashir Maidugu April, 2014