The Federal Government has advanced reasons why it introduced a policy for the distribution and purchase of palliative rice.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, explained the reasons in a statement he posted on his X handle on Friday.
He said the policy was introduced to ensure transparency and prevent racketeering in the distribution of the subsidised rice.
Sen. Kyari said, going by the policy,
only those with duly registered National Identification Numbers (NIN) would be allowed to purchase the rice, which is part of a broader effort to address the prevailing food crises in the country.
He said, “The rice would be sold at a flat rate of ₦40,000 per 50kg bag, and it is a crucial intervention aimed at mitigating the effects of high food prices.
“This initiative is one of the many measures taken by the administration to cushion the impact of rising food costs, which have been exacerbated by factors such as COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change.
“While these challenges are global, the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring food security for all Nigerians,” the Minister explained.
He noted that to maintain fairness and prevent abuse of the system, the sale would be strictly on a “one person, one bag” basis.
According to him, the verification of beneficiaries would be carried out using the NIN and other relevant identification methods to prevent multiple purchases by fraudulent individuals.
He, therefore, urged all citizens to cooperate with the relevant authorities to ensure the success of the initiative and to uphold the fundamental right to food for all Nigerians.
He affirmed that with the injection of 30,000 metric tonnes of rice into the market, the federal government expects to not only reduce the price of rice but also stabilise the prices of other food commodities.
He called on Nigerians to remain patient and steadfast as the administration’s efforts to enhance food security would soon begin to yield positive results.
