President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered distribution of 150 trucks of rice seized by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to the 36 states of the federation.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

The news conference was on the fiscal stimulus measures in response to COVID-19 pandemic and oil prices fiscal shock.

Ahmed said the seized trucks of rice had been handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management for onward distributions to Nigerians.

She added that in addition to this, the president had also approved distribution of grains from strategic grain reserves across the country.

The minister stated that as part of the effort to support the farmers, the president also approved reduction of the price of fertilizer from N5,500 to N5,000 per bag.

She added that this was another measure to give subsidy to farmers in view with the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

According to her, more measures will be taken to provide more benefits to the citizens.

“We don’t want to rush and announce measures that will end up benefitting only a few of the segments. Our interest is to make sure that as much as possible a lot of Nigerians are productive and have liquidity in their hands.

“This will help to increase consumption, thereby assist to improve the economy.

“This is not something we will announce in a hurry without consulting with the central ministry and also without consulting with the key participants in the sector,”

She added.

The minister noted that the emerging health and economic risks resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic and decline in international oil prices posed existential threats to Nigeria’s economy, healthcare system, national security, as well as the lives of the citizens.

She emphasised that extra-ordinary measures would be required, as the situation evolved, to address these challenges.

Sahara Reporters

You guys should sit up and tackle this pandemic before it gets worst

150 trucks to 36 states? I'm sure it will be shared I grain per household... I think government should channel their efforts towards finding how to reduce the spread of the virus...

"Man Know thyself"

A topic in a course I read while I was a student of UNN says "man know thyself".
Another quote I remember very well according to socrates is that "An unexamined life is not worth living".

Events like this corona virus era calls for a deep reflection on the way we live. Dont get me wrong, I don't mean that
this epidemic is caused by our sins. But when a tragic events like this unfolds, it calls for us to
think deep on the way we live our life. Life in itself is vanity and the earlier you come to term with
it the better for you.

So much for our worries about wealth, riches, money, food and material things.
In death, where is your certificates? where are your houses? where are your cars?
where is the body you twerk naked all over social media? where are your children?
where are your title? where are your accounts? where are your squad?

I am not condemning our strive and efforts to get a better living but we ought to
be careful what we do to get riches. Those who do 419, those who do rituals, those who steal,
those who kill for money, those who exploit others for money, those who rob others for money,
those who rape, those who loot, those who indulge in immoral acts for money, those who sell hard drugs for money etc.

You may live as if there is no heaven or hell or purgatory. You may get away from
the police. You may get away form the law. You may get away from the government, But you will never get away from the judgement of God.
What shall it profit you to get all the accolades in life and lose your soul to devil? What?

Even if you doubt judgement, you need to change your ways. What if eventually you meet judgement
at the other side after death? What will you say since there will be no second chance?

Man Know thyself

This country is a joke

Shey this man called buhari knows the numbers of Nigerians living in poverty alone not to join abject poverty

This knee-jerk approach to solving critical problems won't cut it. Who's afraid of doing the right thing? After spending more than twenty years seeking the highest office in the land is this all you can offer? Na wa.

as usual, it would be shared in states like Yobe, Kastina, Bauchi etc

While Army would continue dia killing in the SE/SS

Delta war is still on.

ilevic:
150 trucks to 36 states? I'm sure it will be shared I grain per household... I think government should channel their efforts towards finding how to reduce the spread of the virus...

Lol.... Very useless people like this..

All he knows is to give directives without implementing them... Smh

Thought these foreign rice is contraband? The level of hypocrisy in this country is embarrassing.

That's 4 bags per state.

The state governor will just taken bags home.

SSAs and SAs will share one bag..

This government are jokers.

DC should should come for an audition at Aso Rock.