In an effort to crash and moderate food prices in the market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), approved the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of maize to 12 major producers, from strategic maize reserve (SMR) under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).
According to the apex bank, the release of maize to the companies, which is the third of such releases, is also intended to tackle the nefarious activities of middlemen who hoard the product thus causing artificial scarcity.
Recipients of the grains include; Premier Flour Mills, Crown-Olam, Grand Cereals, Animal Care, Amobyn and Hybrid Feeds. Others are Obasanjo Farms, Zartech, Wacot, Sayeed Farms, Pandagri Novum and Premium Farms.
Confirming the release of the grains, the CBN spokesman, Osita Nwanisobi expressed optimism that the release would crash the price of maize, reduce pressure on the market, and make the product directly available to feed producers, thereby reducing the price of poultry feed in the country. As part of the Bank’s financing framework, Nwanisobi said the CBN would continue to facilitate the funding of maize farmers and processors through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) Commodity Association, Private/Prime Anchors, State Governments, Maize Aggregation Scheme (MAS), and the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS). Also speaking on the development, the National President of the Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Dr. Bello Abubakar urged middlemen to desist from taking advantage of the supply gap to hike the price of the grains.