The Federal Government has approved N5 billion grant to be distributed in each state including the FCT, as palliatives to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

The National Economic Council, NEC, also noted that the government allocates five trucks of rice and 40,000 bags of maize to each of the 36 states across the country.

These were some of the conclusions from the NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Babagana Zulum, the Governor of Borno state, said the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has been directed to distribute food items to states sharing border with Niger Republic over the recent political instability in the country.

Zulum said the states are to purchase 100,000 bags of rice and beans among other items.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, said only N2 billion has so far been given to states instead of the N5 billion approved.