The Federal Government has announced that only individuals with National Identification Numbers (NIN) will be eligible to purchase subsidized milled rice, as it begins the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of rice at a reduced price of ₦40,000 per 50kg bag.
During the launch ceremony on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasized that the rice will be distributed on a “one person, one bag” basis. This initiative is part of the government’s strategy to mitigate the impact of the food crisis in Nigeria.
Kyari highlighted that the 50kg bags of rice, available at a uniform price of ₦40,000, are a key component of the government’s broader efforts to address rising food costs. He praised the administration’s efforts, which also include the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to vulnerable populations.
To ensure fairness and prevent misuse, a multi-disciplinary task force has been set up to oversee the distribution process. This task force will verify buyers using their NINs and phone numbers to prevent any single individual from obtaining more than one bag, thus ensuring that the rice reaches as many people as possible.
Kyari urged citizens to cooperate with the relevant agencies to make this initiative successful. He expressed hope that the influx of 30,000 metric tonnes of rice would help lower rice prices and affect the cost of other food items.
Haruna Sule, Director of Strategic Grains Reserve at the Ministry of Agriculture, detailed the purchasing process. Civil servants can buy the rice by presenting their Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) details. Buyers must have an NIN, a phone number, or be registered under the IPPIS platform to qualify. At the point of sale, buyers will receive a code number and a Treasury receipt, which will indicate the time and place for rice collection to avoid overcrowding.
Sule further explained that buyers will need to present their code at the collection point to receive their rice. The collection and sales points are distinct to streamline the process and prevent chaos.
In July, the Ministry of Information, led by Idris Mohammed, had announced a similar subsidized rice sale, but the initiative was subsequently suspended without further explanation.