Afrigather The federal authorities has flagged off the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to public servants with duly registered Nationwide Identification Quantity (NIN) to curb racketeering. The transfer is elements of efforts to crash the costs of meals in Nigerian markets.
President Bola Tinubu, who was represented on the flag off by Abubakar Kyari, the minister of agriculture and meals safety, mentioned the intervention can be bought strictly “one man to 1 bag or one lady to 1 bag”.
He mentioned the rice — which is to be bought at a flat fee of N40,000 naira just for 50kg — is the federal authorities intervention for the gross sales of subsidised milled rice to ameliorate the prevailing meals crises in Nigeria.
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“This meals intervention might be mentioned to be well timed contemplating the occasions and challenges we’re in as residents of this nice nation,” he mentioned.
“As one of many quite a few efforts of the current administration to cushion the impact of excessive price of meals commodities, kindly be part of me to applaud the immense efforts of the current administration akin to the discharge of 42,000MT of Assorted Meals Commodities (AFC) to weak and the 30,000MT of milled rice which is being flagged-off for gross sales to Nigerians right now fifth September, 2024.”
The minister blamed COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine warfare, local weather change amidst different localized elements/challenges for the excessive price of meals costs.
“This has led to extend concern and threat of meals insecurity and basic decline in the usual of residing globally. I due to this fact urge us to grasp that the current challenges aren’t peculiar to our nice nation,” he mentioned.
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He added that the federal authorities being conscious of the potential challenges related to the gross sales of an vital staple akin to rice, at this vital interval has deployed a multi-disciplinary equipment of Authorities, as effectively put in place sure processes and circumstances to make sure the transparency, wider attain and success of this train.
“This consists of one man one 50kg of rice, others are the verification of intending beneficiaries utilizing related identification mediums such because the Nationwide Identification Quantity (NIN) and cellphone numbers to forestall a number of entry to this meals commodity by fraudulent people on the detriment of different residents,” he mentioned.
He implored residents to cooperate with the related residents to realize the initiative.
“Allow us to work collectively to make sure that the dream of the current administration to upheld the basic proper to meals for all Nigerians is achieved. It’s anticipated that with the injection 30,000MT (1000 vehicles of 30MT every of this vital staple into Nigeria meals steadiness sheet, it is not going to solely crash the worth of rice but additionally different nearer meals substitutes and alternate options.”
He referred to as on Nigerians to stay steadfast and be affected person with Mr. President as his quite a few efforts to reinforce Meals safety will quickly start to repay.
T
he director, meals and strategic reserve of the ministry, Haruna Sule Abutu outlined the process to purchase the subsidised rice.
“To qualify for the one individual one bag, you will need to have Nationwide Identification Quantity, after all you have got cellphone numbers and people in public service are all registered below the Built-in Payroll and Private Info System (IPPIS) platform,” he mentioned.
“Upon getting any of those three, on the level of sale, with the NIN logged into the system, a code quantity and a Treasury receipt can be generated, and with that the customer can get to the gathering middle and decide up his bag. The receipt will point out, time and level of assortment to remove stampede.”
