To mitigate the impact of increasing food costs, the Nigerian government began selling 30,000 metric tons of milled rice on Thursday at a subsidised rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag.
The government’s initiative aims to support civil servants and other vulnerable segments of the Nigerian population. The government has stressed that these measures also focus on enhancing food security throughout the country.
During yesterday’s launch event in Abuja, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, praised the President’s dedication to ensuring that no Nigerian experiences hunger.
Kyari said that the government has implemented various safeguards to ensure equity and transparency, including the “one man, one 50kg bag” policy and verification processes utilizing the National Identification Number (NIN) and phone numbers.
These steps are designed to prevent multiple purchases and ensure that the rice reaches the intended recipients.
He also encouraged citizens to cooperate with the agencies overseeing the sales process and assured Nigerians that the initiative would help lower the price of rice and other food alternatives.
“It is anticipated that with the injection of 30,000MT and the allocation of 1,000 trucks per state, this will not only reduce the price of rice but also of other similar food substitutes and alternatives,” Kyari added.
To be eligible, individuals must possess a National Identification Number (NIN), and those in the public and civil service must also be registered on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform.
During the sale, buyers must provide their NIN, which will be verified through a specially developed platform. Once verified, payments will be made electronically via ATM cards, linking the payment directly to the sales operation.