Economic hardship: We’ve distributed 740 trucks of rice to states, FCT, says minister

The federal government says it has distributed 740 trucks of rice to the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT) to address the economic hardship in the country.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the end of the federal executive council (FEC) meeting, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, said each state will receive 20 trucks of rice.

The minister added that each truck contains 1,200 bags of 25 kg of rice.

He said President Bola Tinubu has directed Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture, to ensure food availability for Nigerians amid the current economic hardship in the country.

Idris said the rice distribution is aimed at alleviating the hardship faced by Nigerians, adding that governors are expected to ensure that the food items reach the most vulnerable in their respective states.

“The council deliberated on the state of affairs in Nigeria, especially the issue of food supply and the shortage of food on the tables of many Nigerians,” he said.

“And after exhaustive deliberation, the minister of agriculture had earlier been directed to ensure that food was made available to Nigerians.

“And the understanding is that about 20 trucks of rice have already been supplied to each of the states of the federation, including the federal capital territory. Each of the trucks, of course, is carrying about 1,200, 25-kg bags of rice.

“This is part of the measures that the government is taking, in addition to so many others, to ensure that the hardship being experienced by Nigerians is drastically ameliorated.

“So to recap, 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 sub-nationals, so that the hardship experienced by most Nigerians in terms of a shortage of food supply is bridged.

“It is expected that the state governors will go ahead and distribute this food item to the most vulnerable. So that the hardship, like I said, that has been experienced will be brought down significantly.”

The minister said the council also directed the presidential committee on compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to hasten its activities to supply the vehicles and make the conversion kits available to Nigerians.

“Already, they have started, but the federal executive council asked them to redouble their effort. So that conversion kits that we need for the CNG to populate will be made available,” he said.

“Also, the conversion centers that had earlier been approved will also be significantly upgraded so that Nigerians will have more conversation centres, and more conversation kits.

“The compliance level of CNG, as the federal government has directed, should go up to reduce our overreliance on PMS. And this will in turn also aid our energy transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy.”