The Federal Government through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Monday announced the immediate distribution of an additional 10 trucks of 50kg rice to each state to be sold at designated centres at N40,000.
This was resolved at the just concluded Federal Executive Council, (FEC) meeting, an effort the federal government is implementing to solicit the suspension of the ten-day August hunger protest stating that most of the demands put forward by the organisers are being addressed.
Briefing State House correspondents, Idris said the ten trucks of rice for each state was a measure put in place to address poverty and the high cost of living, in his words: “The position of the FEC is that most of the demands that the protesters are making are being addressed by the federal government and therefore it is the view of the government that there is no need for the protests again because most of those things that the protesters are putting forward have already actually been addressed or are being addressed by government and like we have said repeatedly, this is a listening government.
“The President has listened to the 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 the government to do, for example, the effort that the government is making, to ensure that food is being made available.
“The last Council meeting here at the briefing, we announced that several trucks 20 precisely had been given to the state governors for onward distribution to those who actually are in need of them to the poorest of the poor in society and those who are actually in need, but the government did not stop there, there is also a rice that is being sold at about 50% of its cost, a bag of rice is being sold at N40,000 as we speak now”.
