The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared that only public servants with a valid National Identification Number (NIN) will be allowed to buy from the newly released 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice. This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, during an event in Abuja on Thursday, September 5. The initiative aims to prevent fraud and help lower food prices in the country.
Representing President Bola Tinubu, Kyari stated that each person is restricted to purchasing a single 50kg bag of rice, which is set at a fixed price of 40,000 naira. This measure is part of the government’s broader strategy to tackle the current food crisis.
“This intervention comes at a crucial time given the challenges our nation faces. It is just one of many steps the current administration is taking to alleviate the impact of rising food prices. Today, we are also distributing 42,000 metric tonnes of various food items to those in need,” Kyari mentioned.
He attributed the rise in food prices to multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, climate change, and other local issues. Kyari highlighted that these difficulties are part of a wider global challenge.
