(3 minutes read)
· President Buhari ordered that the impounded rice of 150
truck load be distributed to the poor and needy
· To encourage more rice production in the country, the
government also reduced the fertilizer prices, which would help them
during the pandemic days to engage in cultivation.
When Nigeria closed her borders last year to prevent smuggling, the
customs made a lot of impounding at the entry points including
grains. That has come to the rescue of the country in the Covid-19
food management. President Buhari ordered that the impounded rice of
150 truck load be distributed to the poor and needy.
The seized rice was handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian
Affairs and Disaster Management for distribution to Nigerians. In
addition to this, grains also will be made available from strategic
grain reserves across the country. To encourage more rice production
in the country, the government also reduced the fertilizer prices,
which would help them during the pandemic days to engage in
cultivation. The pandemic and the steady decline in the oil prices are
causing existential threat to Nigeria’s economy, which to a large
extent depends on oil.
The government sources said that more steps would be taken to boost
the economy. Nigeria, as reported by www.trendsnafrica,com, has
reported that it would be presenting a financial package of US$1.37
billion to the various players in the economy including farmers.
While a portion of the funds will be transferred from various other
departments of the government to the pool meant for countering
Covid-19 backlash, the government is also looking at the possibility
of tapping resources from multilateral organizations like World Bank
and IMF.
