FG begins sale of rice at ₦40,000 per bag, sets condition for purchase
The Federal Government has commenced the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice at ₦40,000 per 50kg bag, setting strict conditions for purchase.
Only public servants with registered National Identification Numbers (NIN) are eligible to buy, as part of measures aimed at curbing racketeering and alleviating the current food crisis.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, stated that the sales are a government intervention aimed at reducing the high cost of food commodities.
He added that the sale would be on a “one man, one bag” basis to ensure fair distribution.
“This intervention is timely considering the current challenges in the country. With the release of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice, we hope to see the prices of rice and related food commodities fall across Nigerian markets,” Kyari said.
Kyari attributed the high cost of food to several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with authorities, emphasising that the purchase process will involve verification through NIN and other identification methods to prevent fraudulent multiple purchases.
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How to Buy
To qualify, buyers must provide their NIN, phone numbers, or their Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) registration, particularly for public servants.
At the point of sale, a code and Treasury receipt will be issued, which the buyer will present at collection centres.
The director of the food and strategic reserve, Haruna Sule Abutu, assured that this process will help manage the crowds and ensure an orderly distribution.
The government has also introduced other efforts to ensure food security, including the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities for vulnerable groups.
Abutu urged Nigerians to support the initiative, highlighting that the injection of these rice stocks will not only affect rice prices but also those of other food substitutes.
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