The Nigerian government has approved the disbursement of 5bn naira ($6.5m; £5.1m) to each of the country’s 36 states and the federal capital for the procurement of food items for the poor.

It will also distribute bags of rice, maize and fertiliser, Governor Babagana Zulum of the north-western Borno state told the media after a National Economic Council meeting at the presidential villa in the capital, Abuja.

The move comes as part of palliative measures to address the rising cost of food and other commodity prices, a fallout from the fuel subsidy removal by the government.

Nigerians are facing a high cost of living, including transportation costs caused by more than a 200% rise in fuel prices after President Bola Tinubu removed fuel subsidies when he took over power in May.

Food prices have also more than doubled as a result, with the president declaring a state of emergency over food insecurity last month.

Last month, he announced several economic measures aimed at improving food security, supporting small businesses, bolstering manufacturing and easing transportation costs across the country.

He said the removal of subsidies yielded results by helping the government save over 1tn naira ($1.2bn).