TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of 70,000 tonnes of grains to be distributed to the poor and vulnerable amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The grains are from the national strategic grain reserves.

The presidency broke the news in a tweet on Wednesday, saying the grains are for persons in states that have recorded cases of coronavirus and for people whose livelihoods will be affected by the lockdown.

“President @MBuhari has approved the release of 70,000 Metric Tonnes of Grains from Nigeria’s National Strategic Grain Reserves, for distribution to poor and vulnerable persons in frontline #COVID19 States, as well as persons whose livelihoods will be affected by the Lockdowns, “the tweet read.

President @MBuhari has approved the release of 70,000 Metric Tonnes of Grains from Nigeria’s National Strategic Grain Reserves, for distribution to poor and vulnerable persons in frontline #COVID19 States, as well as persons whose livelihoods will be affected by the Lockdowns.

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 1, 2020

As part of the measures to contain the virus, the president had ordered a lockdown in Lagos state which has the highest number of coronavirus cases, Abuja and Ogun.

The president also directed conditional cash transfers for the most vulnerable in the society.

Earlier, Sadiya Umar Farouk, minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, had said the federal government had commenced cash transfer to Nigeria’s poorest households to cushion the effects of the pandemic.

She also said over 11 million poor Nigerians have been identified by the federal government to benefit from the palliatives.

Nigeria currently has 151 cases of coronavirus with nine recoveries and two deaths.