- The Federal Government donated 20 trucks of rice to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
- This sparked various reactions from numerous Nigerians
- Some criticised the government while others suggested that the gesture was a distraction
In a bid to address food insecurity and provide relief amid economic challenges, the federal government has donated 20 trucks of rice to each of Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This announcement, made by the Minister of Information in Abuja on Monday, has quickly become a topic of widespread discussion and debate among Nigerians.
He said: “Each of the trucks of course is carrying about 1,200 25kg bags of rice. This is part of the measures that the government is taking in addition to so many others to ensure that the hardship being experienced by Nigerians is drastically ameliorated.”
The gesture, intended as a form of support, has generated various reactions from the public, ranging from outrage to sarcastic banter.
Nigerians drag FG over rice donation
Many Nigerians have raised the purchase of the presidential jet and yacht, saying the donation of rice is a bribe or a distraction from the government's extravagant spending.
While some Nigerians believe the donation is a case of misplaced priority, given the many issues waiting to be addressed by the federal government, others are of the opinion that the rice should be eaten in order to have energy in preparation for the planned protests of August 1.
The donation has also led to an argument concerning the fact that some states are more populous than others and it may seem unfair to give all states the same quantity of rice.
Here are some of the reactions that followed the news:
@otakerioghenero posted: “Enough of these sharing create jobs opportunity. Don't allow investors to leave the country your tax is too high for them , fix electricity. Nigerians are hardworking they are not lazy.”
@calebfranklyn posted: “Nigerians will not get it as usual. I will not get
My neighbors will not get. My street people will not get. My community will not get. My church members will not get. My colleagues will not get. No one I know will get. No one on this app will get.
Na so e juss be for 9ja.”
@ayo_omoajao posted: “This can never solve the present situation of the country. The corruption in this country can never allow such trucks of rice to get to it's defined destination. Let's just pretend as of the government has done something good. Mtchew.”
@Drweloveu posted: “Stop giving people fish, teach them how to catch fish.”
@shehu_mahdi posted: “Nonsense . This is a panic round of palliatives that will barely last a week. What next after one week? Another fake promise. Just stop stealing public money.. stop looting the treasury, stop reckless, wicked, and selfish public spending. Stop the boggy contracts, etc, if you have peace and tranquillity. Otherwise, Woe unto you.”
@jrnaib2 posted: “You mean Kano with over 20M people will receive 20 trucks as well as Bayelsa that has less than 3M people? It doesn't make sense at all.”
@basilabia posted: “Lagos intelligentsia kept waxing lyrical about this guy only for his novel idea of taming inflation & wading off nationwide ‘Kenya-esque’ protests to be distributing 20 trucks of rice to each state - a commodity that Nigeria has an inelastic demand beyond 7 million metric tonnes.”
@Morris_Monye posted: “Massive giveaways to cool the temperature of the masses and avoid protests. The funny thing, the absolutely funny thing is that Politicians in the states will corner the rice and it won’t still get the masses. Hence a futile idea…”
@Spotlight_Abby posted: “$150 million is officially around N234,750,000,000 (with a B). It is not N150 billion. THAT'S WHAT A JUNKIE USED TO BUY A JET. Then, he gave them three cups of rice as their own share. What a wonderful world!”
@FS_Yusuf_ posted: “When you collect the rice, chop am get strength and hit the street for protest.”
@MO_Shaibu_ posted: “Werey is now scared of protest and sharing rice grains as if Nigerians are hungry birds; meanwhile he’s busy spending over $100m on new jet. What an INSULT! Tinubu MUST GO!”
@Morris_Monye posted: “They got new jet of N150bn. He now sent rice to all states in the country to “wash” the new Jet.”
@torty_mercy posted, “Planning protests, then boom they are sharing rice! These people have seen hungry Nigerians finish! I hope you turn the rice you get to fuel, school fees, electricity, medical bills… I don’t even know who is more foolish, APC OR NIGERIANS!”
Federal Government appoints 560 individuals to form governing councils of tertiary institutions
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported the Federal Government released the list of members of the governing councils and boards of federal tertiary institutions on the night of Friday, June 28, three weeks after President Bola Tinubu's order for a review.
Since June 2023, Federal Government-owned institutions had been functioning without governing councils, following the president's directive for their dissolution.