By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Federal Government of Nigeria has sold milled rice to media workers in Kaduna at a subsidized rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag, as part of efforts to address the ongoing food crisis and mitigate the rising cost of essential food items.
The sale, which took place last month, saw 149 bags of rice allocated to various media organizations. The transactions were screened by officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to ensure transparency and accountability.
Apart from media workers, civil servants across various ministries and associations also received their rice allocations at their respective offices. Buyers accessed their supplies via Point of Sale (POS) with their Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and National Identification Number (NIN) to verify their eligibility.
Hajiya Asma’u Yawo Halilu, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kaduna State, commended the federal government for its gesture. She expressed gratitude, noting that the subsidized price was a relief given the high market rates. However, she recommended that the government make the rice sale a recurring initiative to accommodate individuals who missed the initial round.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized that the initiative followed the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose goal is to ensure that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry.
The minister attributed the need for the food intervention to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukraine war, climate change, and other factors that led to increased food insecurity globally.
According to the minister, 30,000 metric tonnes of rice (equivalent to 1,000 trucks of 30MT each) were injected into Nigeria’s food supply chain. He explained that this effort would not only stabilize rice prices but also influence the cost of alternative food commodities.
Kyari stressed that the initiative includes transparency measures, such as limiting each buyer to one 50kg bag and using NINs and phone numbers to prevent fraudulent purchases. The government has called on citizens to cooperate with relevant agencies to ensure the success of the program.
The minister further highlighted that this intervention was timely and crucial for addressing the challenges that citizens are currently facing.
