In its effort to beat down the excruciating hunger in the country, the Federal Government on Thursday, began the sales of 50kg of bag of rice at N40,000. The sale if based on one-man one-bag and at the production of the National Identification Number, NIN.
This was even as the FG has rolled out 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice for the sale.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, did the flag-off of the rice sale at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Performing the flag off in Abuja, the Minister expressed pleasure over the development.
He said: “It is indeed my pleasure to welcome you all to this historical, all-important, and long-awaited flag-off. Of the sales of 30,000 MT of FGN milled rice to Nigerians at a subsidized rate of N40,000 per 50 kg.
“This kind gesture was made possible at the expense and directives of the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Who does not want Nigerian citizens to go to bed hungry. And in his wisdom, deemed it important to initiate this food intervention.
“We are all aware that in the recent past, precisely aftermath of COVID-19, and due to the Russian-Ukraine war, the climate change, amidst other localized factors/challenges, food prices, farm yields, and food chains, were distorted globally, and Nigeria is not an exception.
“This has led to increased concern and risk of food insecurity and general decline in the standard of living globally. I, therefore, urge us to understand that the present challenges are not peculiar to our great country.
“This food intervention can be said to be timely. Considering the times and challenges we are in as citizens of this great nation.
“As one of the numerous efforts of the present administration to cushion the effect of high cost of food commodities, kindly join me to applaud the immense efforts of the present administration. Such as the release of 42,000 MT of Assorted Food Commodities (AFC) to the vulnerable. And the 30,000 MT of milled rice that is being flagged off for sales to Nigerians today, 5th September, 2024.”
The Minister, however, stated that there was the need to make the sales more transparent and well monitored.
He added that, “The Federal Government, being aware of the potential challenges associated with the sales of an important staple such as rice, at this critical period has deployed a multi-disciplinary machinery of government. As well as put in place certain processes and conditions to ensure the transparency, wider reach, and success of this exercise.
“This includes one man and one 50 kg of rice. Others are the verification of intended beneficiaries using relevant identification mediums such as the National Identification Number (NIN). And phone numbers to forestall multiple access to this food commodity by fraudulent individuals at the detriment of other citizens.
“In view of the above, I, therefore, urge our dear citizens to cooperate with the relevant agencies of government. As they try to serve you to achieve this great initiative of government.
The Minister, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to support the Tinubu administration.
He said, “Let us work together to ensure that the dream of the present administration to uphold the fundamental right to food for all Nigerians is achieved.”
The Minister expressed optimism that the injection of the 30,000 MT will help to crash the price of rice in the open market.
He said, “It is expected that with the injection of 30,000 MT (1000 trucks of 30 MT each) of this important staple into Nigeria’s food balance sheet, it will not only crash the price of rice but also other closer food substitutes and alternatives.
“On behalf of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, I hereby flag-off the sales of the FGN-milled rice to Nigerians at a subsidized rate.
“I sincerely also wish to use this opportunity to encourage Nigerians to remain steadfast. And to be patient with Mr. President as his numerous efforts to enhance food security will soon pay off.”
source: Vanguard
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U
