The Federal Government has approved N5 billion for each state to enable them to procure food items for distribution to the poor in their respective states.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State disclosed this at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

The palliative is meant to cushion the hike in the cost of food items, following the removal of petrol subsidy.

According to him, the Federal Government also released five trucks of rice each to the 36 states.

Explaining further, Governor Zulum said the state governments are to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize, and fertilizers.

Governor Zulum also noted that 52% of the funds were given to the state governments as grants while 48% is loans.