COVID-19: Enugu unveils coal-city rice, distributes as palliative

Enugu state governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is set to distribute the state-owned rice – ‘coal-city rice’ to some specified categories of beneficiaries as a palliative to cushion the effect of COVID-19 in the state.

The governor who was represented at the occasion of unveiling the state home-grown coal-city rice brand by Simon Ortuanya, the secretary to the government said the distribution would commence next week.

“This will be distributed to the people of the state as a palliative for the hardship posed by the effect of the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

Ortuanya noted the rice brand was part of the government’s response for a successful fight against the COVID-19 and a step further in the quest for the state economic diversification.

The coal-city brand rice is planted, processed and packaged in Enugu state and it is a long-grain variety that is stone-free with standardised production.

Also present at the function is Matthew Idu, the state commissioner for Agriculture, and special adviser to the governor on Agriculture.