In a bid to cushion the effects of a likely food shortage due to challenges arising from the coronavirus outbreak, Nigeria plans to distribute trucks of seized foreign rice to its citizens said Zainab Ahmed, Nigeria’s minister of Finance.
The Minister revealed that the federal government has taken possession of 150 trucks of rice with the Nigerian Custom’s Service and would commence distribution to poor Nigerians across the country.
“The president has approved grains from strategic reserves, and the Nigerian Customs Service had in its custody, a lot of rice that have been seized, and there are 150 trucks of rice that are now being handed over to the humanitarian ministry for distribution across the states of the federation.” She said.
Last year, Nigeria closed her borders. Part of the reason was to combat the incidence of smuggling. The customs recorded a lot of impounding at the entry points.
Collaborating what Zainab Ahmed said, an aide to the president on digital media disclosed the information on Twitter. “President Buhari directs the Nigeria Customs Service to release 150 truckloads of rice seized from smugglers for immediate distribution across the country. Part of the FG’s palliative measures to cushion the effect of the #COVID19 Pandemic.”
The national coronavirus stats now stands at 254 with 44 discharged and 6 deaths. Lagos still topped with 130 cases followed by Abuja with 50 and Osun with 20 cases. All three states are under federal lockdown.
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