The Federal Government has announced that only people with a National Identification Number (NIN) can buy 50kg bags of rice for ₦40,000 each at a subsidized rate.
Beyond Boders gathered that the rice sale is part of an effort to help Nigerians cope with high food prices.
During the launch on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the rice will be sold on a “one person, one bag” basis. This means each person can only buy one bag.
Kyari explained that this initiative is to provide affordable milled rice to Nigerians during the current food crisis.
He noted that the government is trying to support citizens by releasing 30,000 metric tonnes of rice for sale. “This food intervention can be said to be timely considering the times and challenges we are in as citizens of this great nation,” Kyari stated.
To ensure fairness, a government task force will oversee the process. Buyers must show their NIN and phone numbers to verify their identity. This measure is to prevent people from buying more than one bag.
Haruna Sule, the Director of Strategic Grains Reserve at the Ministry of Agriculture, outlined the steps to buy the rice.
Civil servants can buy at specific locations using their Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) details. After presenting their NIN, they will receive a code and treasury receipt. This receipt will show when and where to collect the rice to avoid crowds.
In July, the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, had announced a similar plan to sell subsidized rice. However, the plan was put on hold without explanation before this new initiative was introduced.
