The federal government on Thursday approved N180 billion to be shared by the 36 states of the federation as part of its efforts to alleviate the harsh realities of fuel subsidy removal.
A palliative of N5bn is coming to each of the 36 states of the federation as the National Economic Council (NEC) approved a sum of N180bn as relief funds on Thursday. The approval was granted at the NEC meeting which held today in Abuja.
The N5 billion from the palliative fund will be for the procurement of food items.
This was disclosed to journalists on Thursday after the month’s NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, explained that it was part of measures to bring temporary solutions to the high cost of living caused by the subsidy removal.
He said the States are to purchase 100,000 bags of rice and beans among other items, adding that each of the States is also to receive five trucks of rice.
He also said the NEC agreed that the frontier States bordering the Niger Republic are to be assisted with more palliative materials than others, considering the influx of refugees into their domains from the beleaguered neighbouring country. Since the removal of petrol subsidy, which has forced prices from N195 to as high as N617 or more in some places, life has become hard for many Nigerians with the attendant outcries.