From Fred Itua, Abuja
The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, has urged state governors and local government chairmen to emulate the Federal Government by releasing grains to the needy in the country.
He also hailed President Bola Tinubu for ordering the release of 102,000 tonnes of rice, maize, millet, and others to address the high cost of food in the country.
The Federal Government had, through the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention, headed by the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday, ordered the release of 102,000 tonnes of grains to Nigerians.
Hailing President Tinubu for the directive, the Deputy President of the Senate, said the move would go a long way to cushion the effects of the rising cost of commodities in the country.
On his own, Barau said in the coming days, he would distribute rice to 200,000 households as part of his contributions to address the challenge.
“At this trying period, we should all support the Federal Government to address the challenges our country is currently facing. As we all know, the rising cost of food is a global phenomenon and our country is not unaffected by it.
“It is against this background that I implore states and local governments to distribute food items to those in need across the country, to cushion the effects of the rise in cost of food items,” he said.