Mrs Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists at a news conference in Abuja.

The news conference was on the fiscal stimulus measures in response to COVID-19 pandemic and oil prices fiscal shock.

Ahmed said the Federal Government seized trucks of rice has been handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management for onward distributions to Nigerians.

Zainab Ahmed added that in addition to this, the president had also approved distribution of grains from strategic grain reserves across the country.

The minister, Zainab Ahmed stated that as part of the effort to support the farmers, the president also approved reduction of the price of fertilizer from N5,500 to N5,000 per bag.

Zainab Ahmed added that this was another measure to give subsidy to farmers in view with the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Zainab Ahmed, more measures will be taken to provide more benefits to the citizens.

“We don’t want to rush and announce measures that will end up benefitting only a few of the segments. Our interest is to make sure that as much as possible a lot of Nigerians are productive and have liquidity in their hands.

“This will help to increase consumption, thereby assist to improve the economy.

“This is not something we will announce in a hurry without consulting with the central ministry and also without consulting with the key participants in the sector,” she added.

The minister noted that the emerging health and economic risks resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic and decline in international oil prices posed existential threats to Nigeria’s economy, healthcare system, national security, as well as the lives of the citizens.

She emphasised that extra-ordinary measures would be required, as the situation evolved, to address these challenges.