The federal government says the national identification number (NIN) is required to buy a 50-kilogram (kg) bag of rice at N40,000.
On July 29, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, announced the sale of a 50kg bag of rice for N40,000.
Idris said 20 trucks of rice have been distributed to each state of the federation.
In a post on X on Friday, Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, said the requirement is to ensure transparency and prevent racketeering in the distribution.
“Only those with duly registered National Identification Numbers (NIN) will be allowed to purchase the rice, which is part of a broader effort to address the prevailing food crises in the country,” Kyari said.
“The rice will be sold at a flat rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag, and it is a crucial intervention aimed at mitigating the effects of high food prices.
“This initiative is one of the many measures taken by the administration to cushion the impact of rising food costs, which have been exacerbated by factors such as COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change.
“While these challenges are global, the federal government remains committed to ensuring food security for all Nigerians. To maintain fairness and prevent abuse of the system, the sale will be strictly on a “one person, one bag” basis.”
Kyari said the verification of beneficiaries will be carried out using the NIN and other relevant identification methods to prevent multiple purchases by fraudulent individuals.
The minister urged Nigerians to cooperate with the relevant authorities to ensure the success of the initiative and to uphold the fundamental right to food for every citizen.
He said with the injection of 30,000 metric tonnes of rice into the market, the prices of rice are not only expected to reduce but to also help stabilise the costs of other food commodities.
Kyari called on Nigerians to remain patient and steadfast, assuring that the administration’s efforts to enhance food security will begin to yield positive results soon.
