The Federal Government has handed over 12,367 bags of rice to the Sokoto state government as part of the palliative measures to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planing, Sen. Atiku Bagudu and Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, presented the bags of rice on Thursday.

In his address, Bagudu said the gesture was part of a Presidential initiative to support states in cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

He stressed that fertiliser, grains and other food items were distributed earlier aside other support on transportation system, housing and others.

The minister described the present economic challenges as a global phenomenon, which mainly due to conflicts, climate change, poor demographic planning and others issues.