The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that only public servants with duly registered National Identification Numbers (NIN) will be allowed to purchase its subsidised milled rice as part of an effort to curb racketeering and address the high cost of food in the country.
The sale, which involves 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice, was flagged off by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, on September 5, 2024.
Kyari, who represented by President Bola Tinubu at the event, stated that the rice would be sold strictly at a rate of ₦40,000 for a 50kg bag.
The intervention is aimed at ameliorating the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria by making the staple food available to more citizens at a subsidised rate.
He added that the government’s efforts, which include the earlier release of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to vulnerable groups, are part of a broader strategy to reduce food prices.
The minister highlighted several factors contributing to the high cost of food, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change. He noted that these challenges are not unique to Nigeria but are impacting food security globally.
To ensure transparency and prevent multiple purchases by fraudulent individuals, the government has implemented a verification process that requires buyers to present their NINs, phone numbers, and, for public servants, registration under the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) platform. Upon verification, a code and Treasury receipt will be issued, allowing buyers to collect their rice at designated centers.
The Director of Food and Strategic Reserve, Haruna Sule Abutu, explained that the sale process would be streamlined to prevent overcrowding, with the system generating a receipt indicating the time and point of collection for each buyer.
The government’s injection of 30,000 metric tonnes of rice into the market is expected to reduce the price of rice and other similar food items, as the administration continues to address the nation’s food security challenges.
