President Muhammadu Buhari has approved release of 70,000 metric tonnes of grains from the National Grain Reserve to be shared to vulnerable persons in the country as part of government’s palliative measures for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, said this in Abuja at the third joint national briefing of the PTF held on Wednesday.

According to him, 60,000 metric tonnes of the grains would be shared to the vulnerables in FCT, Lagos and Ogun states, which are presently on lockdown, while the remaining 10,000 metric tonnes would be shared to the vulnerables in other frontline states across the country.

“We have received situation reports from Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Inter-State traffic across the country as at Tuesday, 31st March, 2020.

“Indications are that there was a reasonable level of compliance with the Presidential directive which has led to great reduction of traffic on major highways.

“We have however received reports of challenges arising from the enforcement of the Presidential directives by security agents generally and in States where Governors have also imposed their own measures,” Mustapha said.

Daily Trust