The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of subsidized milled rice to Nigerians, with each 50kg bag priced at ₦40,000.
To benefit from this initiative, buyers must present their National Identification Numbers (NIN), and the rice will be sold on a “one person, one bag” basis to ensure fair distribution.
The flag-off ceremony for this rice intervention was presided over by President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, on September 5, 2024.
This initiative aims to alleviate the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria by making essential food commodities more accessible to the public.
Kyari explained that the government has deployed a multi-disciplinary task force to ensure transparency in the process.
Buyers will be required to verify their identities using NIN and phone numbers to prevent individuals from obtaining more than one bag. The system is also designed to prevent fraudulent practices and ensure that the rice reaches as many citizens as possible.
In addition to NIN, civil servants can use their Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) details to access the rice. After providing their verification code, buyers will receive a treasury receipt, which they can use to collect their rice at designated collection points separate from the sales locations.
This initiative follows earlier efforts in July to sell subsidized rice, which was initially delayed without explanation.
The current program seeks to inject 30,000MT of rice into the market to lower the price of rice and other food substitutes, contributing to food price stability across the country.
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