The Federal Government announced on Monday that it has begun distributing an additional 10 trucks of 50kg rice to each state. This rice will be sold at designated centers for N40,000 per bag, aiming to alleviate the high cost of living and address poverty.
During a briefing at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasized that the government is addressing the demands of the protesters, making the upcoming August 1 national protest unnecessary.
Idris stated, “And the position of the FEC is that most of the demands that the protesters are making are actually being addressed by the federal government and therefore it is the view of the government that there is really no need for the protests again.”
President Bola Tinubu has expressed that he is addressing the concerns of the youth by implementing measures that meet their demands. For instance, the government has provided 20 trucks of rice to state governors for distribution to the needy. Additionally, rice is being sold at 50% of its cost, at N40,000 per bag, with centers established across the states for easy access.
“This rice has been taken to various centers across all the states of the federation, and is being sold at 40,000 Naira,” Idris added. “In the first instance, about 10 trucks have been made available to each of these states, and this is just the beginning.”
The government acknowledges that these supplies may not be sufficient but considers them necessary initial steps. Further investments in agriculture, including irrigation projects, are expected to lower food prices in the future.
Idris also highlighted recent initiatives such as the disbursement of student loans and efforts to create three million jobs for young people through the MTT program. Additionally, the federal government is working on reducing transportation costs by transitioning to compressed natural gas (CNG) for mass transit.
The government appeals to those planning the protest to reconsider, citing the risk of it being hijacked by violent elements. “While you are thinking of protesting, government is appealing to you to first shelve it because it has the great likelihood that this protest may be hijacked and may turn violent by unscrupulous elements, and Nigeria will not be good for it,” Idris warned.
