The Federal Government announced on Monday that it has commenced the distribution of an additional 10 trucks of 50kg of rice to each state. The rice will be available at designated centers for purchase at N40,000 per bag. This initiative is aimed at addressing economic challenges related to poverty and the high cost of living.
Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has reiterated that the forthcoming national protest is unnecessary as most of the issues raised by the organizers are already being dealt with. President Bola Tinubu has expressed solidarity with the youth by addressing many of their grievances in advance of the scheduled August 1 protest.
According to Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, the government has taken steps to address several demands of the protesters. Notably, 10 trucks of rice have been allocated to each state, with plans for further interventions shortly. Additionally, efforts are being made to reduce the cost of transportation through the federal government's CNG initiative.
The government encourages peaceful protests as a democratic right but emphasizes the need to consider the impact on others. It urges reconsideration of the planned protest in light of the ongoing efforts to address the issues raised.
The distribution of the additional rice supply and the government's responsiveness to protesters' demands signal a proactive approach to addressing societal challenges and improving the well-being of citizens.