Economic hardship: Buhari orders release of 10,000 tonnes of grains

Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe has been directed to release10,000 tonnes of grains from the National Strategic Grains Reserve for distribution across the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the directive in Abuja on Sunday as part of measures to cushion the effects of the economic crisis Nigerians are currently battling with.

A presidency source said that it is expected that the release of the grains would help to check the astronomically rising cost of food stuff and the concomitant exploitation within the market system.

President Buhari gave the directive in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

“The Presidency however asserts that the devastation of the economy was caused by the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption and the lack of planning by the past administrations and one that should not be blamed on the Change Agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“The Presidency firmly rejects the insinuations that poverty and lack are products of the Change mantra.

“This should be dismissed as an erroneous and misplaced opposition criticism. The President understands the pain and the cries of the citizens of this country and he is spending sleepless nights over how he can make life better for everyone.

“Contrary to assertions by a faction of the opposition Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, the President’s energy and focus are on changing the lives of Nigerians, with a view to making it better than he met it.

“Change is a process. Change does not happen overnight. Change can be inconvenient. Change sometimes comes with pain. Over the past year, the government has been working night and day to deliver on its promise of change to Nigerians, and the painful process is still ongoing.

“This is work in progress. As life gradually returns to normal in much of the country and the northeast in particular, agriculture will resume and traders from neighbouring African countries will once again feel safe to do business with us–yet another boost for our economy.

“But it Is only when we appreciate where we are coming from that we will grasp the full meaning and essence of what the ongoing journey entails," he said.