In what appears to be a response to protests by Nigerians over multiple economic challenges rocking the country and the high inflation driven by the removal of petrol fuel subsidy and exchange rate depreciation since the inauguration of the administration in May 2023, the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has requested all the state governors to provide in the next seven days concrete feedback on their plans to rev up food production in their respective states.
Speaking at the 142nd National Economic Council meeting attended by state governors and some deputies at the State House, Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu announced a National Construction and Household Support Programmes in which 100,000 families in each state will receive N50,000 grant for three months.
He also said that N155bn would be disbursed for assorted foods, N540bn for household grants, while the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja would receive N10bn allocations each for buses which run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
The Nigerian leader explained that N50,000 will be disbursed to 3.7 million families across the 36 states and the FCT, while N10bn allocation each for CNG buses in the 36 states and the FCT, and N155bn will be spent on assorted foods.
While emphasising the urgency of boosting food production in the country, the President urged state governors to work together to meet the needs of citizens, stating his willingness to provide the needed support to ensure that Nigerians are relieved of hardship.
“We must deliver on our targets at all levels. Please report back following your consultations and submit it to my office within seven days.
“How much support do you need from me and in what form? I am prepared to provide it. But we must achieve the result.
“There is nothing we are doing that is more important than producing high-quality food for our people to consume, buy, and sell. We create jobs in the production of it. And that is before we generate wealth by exporting the excess. It is not beyond us to achieve this for Nigerians,” he said.
GIK/APA
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