by Nurat Uthman
The federal government on Monday revealed that it has set up centres across the country where 50kg bags of rice are selling for N40,000 each.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Monday while briefing correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said this is part of the numerous initiatives being provided by the Tinubu administration, which he said made the planned nationwide protest against the high cost of living unnecessary
According to him, President Tinubu is already protesting on behalf of the people planning the protest through the various interventions he is providing.
The minister said that the position of the FEC is that all the demands of the planners of the protest are already being met.
Idris stated: “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.
Because most of those things that the protesters are putting forward are already actually being addressed or are being addressed by government. And like we have said repeatedly, this is a listening government.
“The President has listened to be voices of all those who are planning this protest. And the message is that there is no need for it.
“Indeed, the President is already protesting on their behalf by doing those things that they want a government to do.
“For example, the effort that government is making, to ensure that food is being made available. The last Council meeting here at the briefing, we announced that a number of trucks, 20 precisely had been given to the state governors for onward distribution to those who are actually In need of them, to poorest of the poor in society and those who are actually in need.
“But government did not stop. There is also rice that is being sold at about 50% of its cost, a bag of rice is being sold as we speak now
“This rice has been taken to various centres across all the states of the federation, and is being sold at N40,000. Centres have been created. So. that those who need this rice can go there and buy this rice at N40,000.
“In the first instance, about 10 trucks have been made available to each of these states and indeed, this is just the beginning.
“I know that some of the comments you hear is that it is never enough. Government has not pretended that these supplies are indeed enough. “But these are necessary first steps that are being made and more of such interventions are being made in the interim.
“Of course, this is like I said an interim measure because there is so much investment that is going into the agricultural sector.
“And the rainy season is here. We expect that the prices of food items will come down as investments are also being made not just for the traditional agricultural production, but also for the irrigation activities in many of these states in the federation.
“So, we expect that as we move forward, pricess of food items, and commodities will of course, come down.
“These are part of of the measures and the president feels and the federal executive council believes that already some of the youth that want to protest, some of the answers that they are looking for are already actually being provided.
“For example, only recently the federal government has begun the disbursement of student loans. There’s a provision already for over 2 million students.
“Only about 110,000 applications have thus far been received as at last week. Of course, more are going to come.
