ABUJA: The Federal Government through the ministry of Agriculture has announced that only those with National Identification Numbers (NIN) would be allowed to buy as it commenced the sale of 30, 000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Nigerians at a subsidised rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag.
The 50kg bags of rice, priced at a flat rate of ₦40,000, are part of the Federal Government’s effort to provide subsidised milled rice to help alleviate the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria. ”
This food intervention can be said to be timely considering the times and challenges we are in as citizens of this great nation,” said Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, during the flag-off ceremony on Thursday.
“This food intervention can be said to be timely considering the times and challenges we are in as citizens of this great nation.
Abubakar Kyari, said the move was to curb racketeering and crash the prices of food in Nigerian markets.
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As one of the numerous efforts of the present administration to cushion the effect of high cost of food commodities,
kindly join me to applaud the immense efforts of the present administration such as the release of 42,000MT of Assorted Food Commodities (AFC) to vulnerable and the 30,000MT of milled rice which is being flagged-off for sales to Nigerians today 5th September, 2024.”
The Minister blamed COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, climate change amidst other localised factors/challenges for the high cost of food prices.
“This has led to increased concern and risk of food insecurity and general decline in the standard of living globally. I therefore urge us to understand that the present challenges are not peculiar to our great country,” he said.
