End Of Food Hardship? Massive Jubilation As FG Begins Sales Of Subsidised Rice, Sells At N40, 000 Per Bag
In response to the severe hunger and escalating food prices affecting Nigeria, the Federal Government has taken a decisive step to alleviate the crisis. On Thursday, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, officially launched the sale of 30, 000 metric tonnes of milled rice at a subsidized price of N40, 000 per 50kg bag. This intervention aims to mitigate the impact of the high food prices that have been a persistent issue for over a year.
During the ceremony held at the Ministry’ s headquarters in Abuja, Kyari expressed his satisfaction and pride in initiating this critical measure. He attributed the successful rollout of the rice sale to the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to Kyari, Tinubu’ s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry led to this timely food intervention. The Minister highlighted that this initiative is a direct response to the various global disruptions that have affected food security. These disruptions include the aftermath of the COVID- 19 pandemic, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the effects of climate change, all of which have significantly impacted food prices and agricultural productivity worldwide.
Kyari acknowledged that Nigeria, like many other countries, has been grappling with these global challenges, which have contributed to a heightened risk of food insecurity and a decline in living standards. He underscored that the food crisis is a global issue, not one confined to Nigeria alone. The rice sale is part of a broader strategy by the current administration to address the high cost of food commodities, complementing other efforts such as the earlier release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items to vulnerable populations.
To ensure the process is transparent and equitable, the Minister outlined several measures designed to prevent fraud and ensure that the rice reaches those in genuine need. These measures include limiting the purchase to one 50kg bag per person and implementing a verification system using the National Identification Number (NIN) and phone numbers. This system aims to prevent multiple claims by individuals and ensure that the assistance reaches as many people as possible.