The Nigerian government has announced donation of 740 trucks of rice to 36 states and Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of measures to cushion the country’s food crisis, with each of the trucks containing 1,200 25kg bags of rice.
Penpushing reports that Minister of Information Mohammed Idris made this known while briefing State House reporters on Monday at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, explaining that the bags of rice are expected to be distributed to vulnerable Nigerians by the state governments.
‘Each of the trucks of course is carrying about 1,200 25kg bags of rice. This is part of the measures that government is taking in addition to so many others to ensure that the hardship being experienced by Nigerians is drastically ameliorated’, he said
Penpushing further reports that the minister said each of the state governments has received 20 trucks of rice for onward distribution to the most vulnerable, adding that this is a first step and the federal government will continue to support all the state governors and local governments
‘Each of the state governments has received 20 trucks of rice for onward distribution to the most vulnerable. This is a first step and the federal government will continue to support all the state governors and local governments, all the subnationals, so that the hardship being experienced by most Nigerians in terms of shortage of food supply is breached’, Idris added.
Penpushing also reports that Nigerians have been grappling with a cost-of-living crisis since President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of subsidies on petrol last year, while the price of basic foods has tripled in some cases, with a 50-kg bag of rice rising from about N20,000 to over N60,000.
The announcement comes a few days after the government approved the duty-free importation of major food items like rice, beans, and wheat, while some Nigerians, including Akinwunmi Adesina of the African Development Bank, have criticised the food importation policy.
Penpushing reports that rice is known as one of the most common foods in Nigerian homes, but due to its high prices, it has become out of reach for millions, who cannot afford the purchase
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