Tinubu orders release of grains to 50m farmers, others

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered immediate release of grains and fertilisers to 50 million farmers and households.

The decisions were in response to feedback on the post-subsidy relief plan.

Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, in a statement, said: “You will agree with me that it has become part of the culture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to constantly dialogue with Nigerians who voted him into office. 

“The story has been widely reported that the Federal Government is proposing to give 12 million households from the poorest of the poor N8,000 monthly for a period of six months as government palliative to reduce the discomfort being experienced by Nigerians consequent upon subsidy removal.

“A lot of ill-informed imputations have been read into the programme by not a few naysayers. 

“The Administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must be provision. 

“Since subsidy, the hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy has been stopped, the government has emplaced a broad spectrum of reliefs to bring help to Nigerians.”

The presidency noted that the cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of the relief package.

Alake added: “The President has directed as follows: That the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programme envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately. 

“This is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.