In a bid to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians amidst soaring food prices, the Federal Government has launched the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice at a subsidized rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag.

The initiative, flagged off by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, aims to cushion the impact of high food prices that have persisted for over a year.

The subsidized rice sale is a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is committed to ensuring that Nigerians do not go to bed hungry. The government’s effort is a response to the global food crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukraine war, and climate change, which have distorted food prices, farm yields, and food chains.

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To ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution process, the government has put in place measures such as:

– One person, one 50kg of rice policy
– Verification of beneficiaries using National Identification Number (NIN) and phone numbers
– Deployment of a multi-disciplinary machinery of government to monitor the sales process

The Minister urged citizens to cooperate with relevant government agencies to ensure the success of this initiative. This effort is part of the government’s numerous initiatives to address food insecurity and mitigate the effects of high food prices on Nigerians.