President Bola Tinubu has directed the release of over 100,000 metric tons of varying food items from the strategic reserve and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria as an immediate short-term measure to the increasing hardship in the country arising from food shortage.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, announced this to newsmen at the State House after a meeting of the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention on Thursday.
He also disclosed that the government has planned to embark on import of whatever shortfalls may be experienced after the release of the essential foodstuffs.
The Minister said the government will impose appropriate sanctions on food hoarders, adding that emergencies require emergency measures to ensure food is available to Nigerians.