The National Economic Council, NEC, on Thursday approved N5 billion grant for each of the 36 States for the procurement of grains as well as five trucks of rice to each state as palliatives to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
The NEC at a meeting presided over by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, also approved the distribution of 40,000 bags of maize to states.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State said the approval of N5 billion and trucks of rice and grains were part of measures to bring temporary solutions to the high cost of living caused by the subsidy removal, as the Government continues to work with more enduring programmes.
Zulum added that the States are to purchase 100,000 bags of rice and beans among other items.
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.
NEC therefore directed the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to distribute food items to States sharing border with Niger Republic over the recent political instability in the country.
The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo said that the review of social register was in progress.
He further stated that Nigeria was already having refugees from Niger Republic, which is affecting the distribution of palliatives.
However, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani said only N2 billion has so far been given to States instead of the N5 billion approved.