The Federal Government announces that only Nigerians with a National Identification Number (NIN) will benefit from its ₦40,000 per bag rice sales initiative, aimed at addressing rising food prices.
As the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice commences, the Federal Government has declared that only public servants possessing officially registered National Identification Numbers (NIN) will be eligible for purchase.
Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security launched an initiative to combat racketeering as a means to lower food prices in Nigerian markets.
Kyari, who was accompanied by President Bola Tinubu, stated that the intervention will be strictly sold as “one bag per person,” with no exceptions.
According to him, the rice – intended for sale at a fixed price of ₦40,000 exclusively per 50kg bag – is part of the federal government’s intervention in offering subsidised milled rice as a response to alleviate Nigeria’s ongoing food crisis.
He said that this food intervention is appropriate given the current times and challenges faced by citizens of our great nation.
Let us acknowledge the considerable measures taken by the current government to alleviate the impact of expensive food items. These initiatives include providing 42,000MT of diverse food commodities (AFC) to those in need and launching today on September 5th, 2024 a sale of 30,000MT of milled rice for Nigerians.
Attributing the high cost of food prices to a variety of factors and challenges, including COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, climate change and other localized issues, the minister expressed his concern.
He said that there is a heightened concern and risk of food insecurity, which has resulted in the overall decline of living standards worldwide. He urges us to realize that these issues are not unique to our country alone.
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He further stated that, considering the significance of rice as a crucial staple commodity especially during this critical period, the federal government has enacted a multi-faceted approach involving numerous governmental departments to guarantee transparency, extensive coverage and profitable results for its sales.
According to him, the distribution entails giving 50kg of rice to one person while checking the identification through means such as National Identification Number (NIN) and phone numbers. This measure aims to prevent deceitful individuals from accessing this food commodity multiple times at the expense of other citizens.
He urged citizens to collaborate with the appropriate authorities in order to accomplish the initiative.
We should collaborate to ensure that the current administration’s vision of guaranteeing every Nigerian access to food is actualized. The introduction of 30,000 metric tons (equivalent to 1000 trucks each carrying a load of 30MT) would not only reduce the cost of rice but also other similar and substitute foods in Nigeria’s food supply inventory.
Nigerians were urged to maintain their commitment and display endurance towards the President as his proactive steps in advancing food security would bear fruit shortly.
Haruna Sule Abutu, who serves as the director of food and strategic reserve at the ministry, laid out the process for purchasing rice that is offered at a reduced price.
“According to him, in order to be eligible for the one person one bag rule, a National Identification Number is required. Additionally, phone numbers are necessary and those who work in public service must also be registered under the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) platform.”
Upon obtaining any of these three items, during the point of purchase and after logging in with your NIN, a code number and Treasury receipt will be provided. With this information, buyers can retrieve their bag from the collection center while being instructed on both time and location to avoid overcrowding.
