President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has returned to the Country Tuesday night, after a two-week private visit to Paris, France.
It was gathered that the presidential jet, NAF 001, touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 9 pm.
Top government officials, including his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike were on hand to receive the president.
Equally on the welcoming line were the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri; the Director-General of the Department of State Service, Yusuf Bichi, among many others.
Recall that the presidency had on January 24 issued a statement announcing the president’s departure and noting the return of the Nigerian leader in the first week of February 2024. However, the reason behind the president’s visit remained masked in silence.
The trip marks Tinubu’s third visit to France and his 14th foreign visit since he assumed office eight months ago.
The president’s returns is coming two days after protesters flooded the streets of Kano, Ondo and Minna the Niger state capital to demonstrate over the soaring prices of food items in the market and the rising cost of living.
Meantime, on Tuesday 6 February, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, revealed that Tinubu had directed immediate interventions to alleviate the suffering and forestall a further breakdown of law and order.
Idris spoke after a meeting of the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention, chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
“It is a special presidential committee to address the issue of food shortage or lack of enough food on the table of most Nigerians.
“What I will tell Nigerians is that the President has directed that government needs to step in to stem this tide. The government will not fold its arms and see how Nigerians are suffering regarding the availability of these food items.
“So, I want to plead with you to understand with the government. By the time these meetings are concluded, we’ll be able to issue a definite statement on the government’s position in this regard. But all I can say is that discussions are ongoing, and very soon, a solution is in sight for Nigerians.” He added.
Meanwhile, the Minister who noted that Nigeria was in no shortage of food, stated that the Federal Government was in talks with millers and major commodity traders to avail more supply, thereby addressing the price of some commodities.
