The Federal Government said on Monday it had created centres across the country where Nigerians can purchase a 50-kg bag of rice for N40,000.
The announcement was made by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, during a briefing to reporters regarding the results of the Federal Executive Council meeting that President Bola Tinubu chaired at the State House in Abuja.
Idris said this was one of several initiatives by the Tinubu administration to ease living conditions for citizens.
Therefore, he argued that the nationwide protests scheduled to begin on August 1 were unnecessary since “President Tinubu is already protesting on behalf of the people.”
“The position of the FEC is that most of the demands that the protesters are making are actually being addressed by the Federal Government, and, therefore, it is the view of the government that there is really no need for the protests again.
“Most of the things that the protesters are putting forward are already being addressed by the government. And like we have said repeatedly, this is a listening government.
“The President has listened to the voices of all those planning this protest. The message is that there is no need for it. Indeed, the President is already protesting on their behalf by doing what they want the government to do,” said Idris.
He listed the recent efforts by the FG, which distributed 740 trucks of grains to states, announcing that 50 kg of rice can now be obtained for N40,000 at designated centres nationwide.
Idris said, “For example, at the last Council meeting, we announced that 20 trucks had been given to each state governor for onward distribution to those who actually needed them, to the poorest of the poor in society.
“But the government did not stop. Rice is also being sold at about 50 percent of its cost; a bag of rice is being sold as we speak. This rice has been taken to various centres across all the states of the federation and is being sold at N40,000. Centers have been created so that those who need this rice can go there and buy it for N40,000.
“We expect that the prices of food items will come down as investments are also being made in traditional agricultural production and irrigation activities in many of these states in the federation,” Idris added.
