President Tinubu whom had been away from the country on a two-week private visit to Paris, France returned to the country on Tuesday night.
Some of the top government officials who were present at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 9 pm to receive the President were his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Others who came to welcome the President includes the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri; the Director-General of the Department of State Service, Yusuf Bichi, among others.
President Tinubu who kept mute on the reason for his visit to France was slated to return to the country “in the first week of February 2024,” as announced upon his departure in on January 24.
The trip to France was the Presidents third visit to the country and fourteenth foreign visit outside the country since mounting the podium as Nigeria’s President eight months ago.
The President returned to the country at a time where protests were ongoing in some states, especially Minna and Kano states, who have been protesting since Monday over rising cost of food and cost of living.
On Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, said Tinubu had directed immediate interventions to alleviate the suffering and forestall a further breakdown in security.
After Tuesday’s meeting, which is the first of a series of three, Mohammed told journalists, “It is a special presidential committee to address the issue of food shortage or lack of enough food on the table of most Nigerians.
“What I will tell Nigerians is that the President has directed that government needs to step in to stem this tide. The government will not fold its arms and see how Nigerians are suffering regarding the availability of these food items.
“So, I want to plead with you to understand with the government. By the time these meetings are concluded, we’ll be able to issue a definite statement on the government’s position in this regard. But all I can say is that discussions are ongoing, and very soon, a solution is in sight for Nigerians.”
