The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the commencement of the sale of subsidized rice at ₦40,000 per 50kg bag.

This initiative, aimed at alleviating the rising food costs across the country, will only be available to citizens with a duly registered National Identification Number (NIN). Public servants, who are automatically registered under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), are expected to be primary beneficiaries.

Flagging off the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, stated that this intervention was designed to curb racketeering and ensure fairness in the distribution process. Represented by President Bola Tinubu, the minister emphasized that the initiative was part of the government’s efforts to stabilize food prices and protect citizens from the adverse effects of the current food crises.

“This food intervention can be said to be timely considering the times and challenges we are in as citizens of this great nation,” Minister Kyari said. “The intervention is one of the numerous efforts of the present administration to cushion the effect of high cost of food commodities.”

He further noted that the sale would be regulated under a strict “one person, one bag” policy, with each bag priced at ₦40,000.

Kyari attributed the rising food prices to several global and local challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change, all of which have led to food insecurity. He urged Nigerians to understand that the prevailing challenges are not unique to the country.

In an effort to ensure transparency and prevent fraudulent activities, the Federal Government has mandated that beneficiaries present their NIN or phone numbers at the point of sale. This will ensure that each individual only purchases one bag of rice, limiting access to multiple purchases by a single person.

Haruna Sule Abutu, Director of Food and Strategic Reserve at the Ministry of Agriculture, explained the purchasing process: “To qualify for the one person, one bag scheme, individuals must present their NIN. At the point of sale, the NIN will be logged into the system, generating a code number and a Treasury receipt. With this receipt, the buyer can collect the rice at designated centers.”

He reassured citizens that the process was designed to be orderly, preventing stampedes or other logistical issues. “The receipt will indicate the time and point of collection to eliminate stampede,” Abutu added.

Minister Kyari encouraged Nigerians to support the government’s efforts to enhance food security, noting that this intervention will help reduce the price of rice and similar food commodities. He also called on citizens to remain patient and cooperate with the government as it continues to roll out more programs aimed at alleviating the hardship caused by rising food prices.

“Let us work together to ensure that the dream of the present administration to uphold the fundamental right to food for all Nigerians is achieved.”