The Federal Government has announced that only public servants who possess valid National Identification Numbers (NIN) will be eligible to buy a bag of rice priced at N40,000.
This information was shared by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, during the launch of the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice. He mentioned that this initiative is aimed at reducing racketeering in the market. Kyari emphasized that each individual, whether man or woman, will be limited to purchasing just one bag. He explained that this effort is part of a broader strategy to bring down food prices in Nigerian markets.
According to the Minister, the rice will be sold at a uniform price of N40,000 for a 50kg bag as part of the federal government’s intervention to address the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria. He remarked, “This food intervention comes at a crucial time given the current challenges we face as citizens of this great nation.”
Kyari continued, “This is just one of the many initiatives from the current administration designed to ease the burden of rising food costs. Let’s acknowledge the significant work being done, such as the distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to vulnerable populations, alongside the 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice that we’re kicking off today, September 5, 2024.”
He attributed the surge in food prices to various challenges such as COVID-19, the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, climate change, and other local factors.
