FG Launches Sale of 50kg Rice to Nigerians at ₦40,000
In an effort to combat rising food prices and alleviate hunger, the Federal Government has launched the sale of 50kg bags of rice to Nigerians at a subsidized price of ₦40,000.
The initiative was officially rolled out by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja on Thursday, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensure no Nigerian goes to bed hungry.
During the launch, Kyari stated that the government has made available 30,000 metric tonnes of rice to be distributed nationwide at the reduced rate. He highlighted the timeliness of the intervention, given the prevailing economic challenges, noting that this measure is aimed at easing the burden on citizens.
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“A Timely Intervention”
“This food intervention can be said to be timely considering the times and challenges we are in as citizens of this great nation,” Kyari said. “This kind gesture was made possible at the directives of President Bola Tinubu, who does not want Nigerians to go to bed hungry; and in his wisdom, deemed it important to initiate this food intervention.”
The Minister emphasized that the sale of the rice would be carefully monitored to prevent hoarding or exploitation by middlemen. Verification will be done through the National Identification Number (NIN) and phone numbers to ensure transparency and that no individual purchases more than one bag.
Crashing the Price of Rice
The distribution of the rice is expected to have a significant impact on the market price of rice, with Kyari expressing optimism that the injection of 30,000 metric tonnes of rice will help lower prices across the country.
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“It is expected that with the injection of 30,000MT (1000 trucks of 30MT each) of this important staple into Nigeria’s food balance sheet, it will not only crash the price of rice but also affect the prices of other closer food substitutes and alternatives,” he explained.
How to Buy
Explaining the process, Dr. Haruna Sule, Director of Strategic Grains Reserve at the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that civil servants can access the rice from designated points of sale using their Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) details. Payment will be made electronically, and each buyer will receive a treasury receipt with a unique code that will be presented at collection points.
Sule added that the points of sale and collection will be set up separately to avoid stampedes. “Once the payment is confirmed, a receipt with a code will be issued. The buyer will then proceed to the designated collection point to present the code and collect the rice,” he explained.
In Abuja, five to six sales points will be established across the Federal Capital Territory, with similar setups planned for other states.
A Response to Soaring Food Prices
This initiative comes as Nigerians face increasing food insecurity due to inflation, which has significantly affected the cost of staple food items. With the subsidized rice sale, the Federal Government aims to provide some relief to citizens, particularly those struggling with the high cost of living. The duration of the sale will depend on how quickly the rice stock is sold.
The government’s move has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the effort, while others call for more sustainable long-term solutions to the nation’s food crisis.
