The federal government has ordered the release of 102,000 metric tonnes of rice and maize to Nigerians to help cushion the devastating impact of heightened food prices across the country.
Recall that president Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier convened a meeting with key stakeholders in his cabinet to fashion out a way forward to addressing the prevailing economic challenges. This meeting followed the widening spate of hunger and high cost of living which resulted to a wave of protest across some states in the country earlier this week.
The federal government has also revealed that it may embark on the importation of whatever shortfalls that may have been experienced to augment supplies.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this while answering questions from State House reporters shortly after the meeting of the Presidential Committee on Food Emergency, which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday 9 Feb.
Idris who disclosed that the federal government would put out stringent measures against those hoarding food items, also noted that the price of rice and other grains will crash down significantly in a matter of days.
He maintained that the president has assured that, “food will be made available, whatever it takes.”
This development is coming after a series of deliberations by the committee, in reaction to the protests by Nigerians over the increasing cost of food and other economic realities.
