The Federal Government has approved a N5 billion grant to be given to each of the 36 states of the federation for the procurement of grains, as well as five trucks of rice to each state as palliatives to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidies, according to the National Economic Council, NEC, on Thursday.
The distribution of 40,000 sacks of corn to the states was also approved by the NEC.
In light of the current political unrest in the nation, it also instructed NEMA, the national emergency management agency, to deliver food to states that border Niger Republic.
These were a some of the conclusions from the NEC meeting held in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja under the chairmanship of Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State briefed State House reporters after the meeting, stating that the approval of N5 billion and trucks of rice and grains were part of measures to bring short-term relief to the high cost of living brought on by the removal of subsidies, while the government continued to work on more long-lasting programs.
He indicated that among other things, the states must buy 100,000 bags of food and beans.
According to Zulum, NEC ordered NEMA to provide food to the states that share borders with the Niger Republic.
Prof. Charles Soludo, the governor of the state of Anambra, stated that the social register review was ongoing.
He claimed that the provision of palliatives is being hampered by the fact that Nigeria is already hosting refugees from the Niger Republic.
Senator Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna State, however, claimed that as opposed to the N5 billion sanctioned, only N2 billion has so far been released to states.
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