In a bid to cushion the effects of high cost of food commodities, Federal Government has flagged- off the sales of 30,000MT of milled rice at subsidized rate of N40, 000 per 50kg to ameliorate the prevailing food crisis in Nigeria.
Speaking during the historic event held at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja recently, the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, CON, revealed that the kind gesture was made possible at the expense and directives of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who does not want Nigerian citizens to go to bed hungry, and in his wisdom deemed it important to initiate the food intervention.
He recalled that in the recent past, precisely aftermath of COVID-19, and due to the Russian-Ukraine war, the climate change amidst other localized factors/challenges, food prices, farm yields, food chains, were distorted globally and Nigeria is not an exception.
According to him, “this has led to increased concern and risk of food insecurity and general decline in the standard of living globally”.
The Minister noted that the present challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria alone, adding that the food intervention was timely considering the times and challenges we are in as citizens of this great nation.
Speaking further, he stressed that the Federal Government being aware of the potential challenges associated with the sales of an important staple such as rice, at this critical period has deployed a multi-disciplinary machinery of Government, as put in place certain processes and conditions to ensure transparency, wider reach and success of the exercise.
“This includes one man and one 50kg of rice, others are the verification of intending beneficiaries using relevant identification mediums such as the National Identification Number (NIN) and phone numbers to forestall multiple access to the food commodity by fraudulent individuals at the detriment of other citizens”.
He therefore urged the citizens to cooperate with the relevant agencies of the government to work together to ensure that the dream of the present administration to uphold the fundamental right to food for all Nigerians is achieved.
The Minister further stated that “It is expected that with the injection 30,000MT (1000 trucks of 30MT each) of this important staple into Nigeria food balance sheet, it will not only crash the price of rice but also other closer food substitutes and alternatives” adding that the exercise would also be carried out across the country.
In her goodwill message, the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Bunkure stated that the event was an important day to enhance the well-being of Nigerians.
She stressed that the 30,000 metric tonnes of rice embodied federal government efforts to ensure food security.
In an interview with the Director, Strategic and Grains Reserve Department, Engr. Haruna Suleiman revealed that Civil Servants could access the grains from the point of sale with their Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and NIN. He added that Nigerians could also use their NIN only to access the rice.
Highlight of the event was the official flag off of sales of the subsidized milled Rice by the Hon. Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security and FCT.
In attendance were the representatives from Nigeria Custom Services, ICPC, EFCC, and staff of FCDA, amongst others.
Eremah Anthonia (Mrs.)
Chief Information Officer
