The Nigerian government has launched a program to alleviate the impact of soaring food prices by initiating the sale of 30,000 metric tons of rice at a reduced cost. This effort will enable Nigerians to purchase a 50kg bag of rice for N40,000.
During the launch event in Abuja, Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, outlined the specifics of the subsidized scheme.
Kyari emphasized that to ensure equitable distribution and prevent fraudulent access to the rice, recipients must provide valid identification such as the National Identification Number (NIN) and contact details.
He highlighted that the verification process aims to reduce the risk of individuals making multiple claims.The government plans to bring in 1,000 trucks loaded with rice into Nigeria to sell at lower prices. T
his will likely make rice cheaper for everyone, easing the financial burden on consumers. So in order to buy this discounted rice, people have to meet certain requirements set by the government. The Minister emphasized that strict checks will be carried out to make sure the distribution is done fairly and openly.
The rule of “one person, one bag” is in place to stop anyone from taking advantage of the cheaper rice and to make sure more people can benefit from it.
Furthermore, the Human Resources Management Department of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs will handle the registration of government workers for rice purchases using the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
