FG to Begin Sale of Subsidised Rice in Three States

The Federal Government is expanding its subsidised rice programme to alleviate food insecurity in Nigeria, with sales set to launch in Lagos, Kano, and Borno states, a director at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said.

Early in September, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced the launch of the N40,000 per 50kg subsidised rice in Abuja, stating that the initiative was part of a broader strategy to ensure that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry.

He said the subsidised rice programme aims to provide relief to citizens amid soaring market prices. The current market price of a 50kg bag of rice is about N90,000. It is close to N100,000 in some other locations.

The Federal Government is providing 30,000 metric tonnes of rice through the subsidised rice programme. This translates to approximately 1,000 trucks, each carrying 600 bags.

“We are going to activate Lagos and Kano states for the sales any moment from now. Borno State is also going to be addressed,” the agriculture ministry official who preferred to not be named said.

Reacting to the recent claim that the rice sales in the Federal Capital Territory had been halted, the official said, “we have not even gone anywhere; how can we stop? The sales are ongoing, and we are actively engaging with other states.”

Another official at the ministry said civil servants in Abuja, particularly around the federal ministries have been benefiting from the sales of the subsidised rice.

Punch/Hauwa Abu