As part of efforts to alleviate the growing food scarcity and hunger in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has provided 1,200 bags of rice to each of his ministers.

According to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, the rice is intended as palliatives for vulnerable members of society, specifically targeting the elderly.

Alake revealed that the Presidency made the rice available to him for distribution, which will be focused exclusively on supporting the aged in his state.

The disclosure was made through a statement issued by Segun Tomori, Dr. Alake’s Special Assistant on Media, in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.

The minister said,

“Following the decision of the Presidency to respond to the yearnings of the Nigerian people to make more food available at the grassroots, 1,200 bags were made available to each minister to further supplement the established channels of distribution such as state governments and civic organisations.”

According to him, it is important that aged people are given preference.

“We need to reach out to our aged fathers and mothers at times like this to demonstrate the Omoluabi values of taking care of the old in the community,” he said.

“In the spirit of inclusion, it is important that we channel this intervention to mainly elderly citizens who do not have the strength to compete for welfare goods such as these at the established centres. We have taken their inventory and we are delivering to them.”

“Subsequent interventions will target other segments of the populace such as widows, orphans, persons living with disabilities and students in higher institutions of learning,” Alake added.