The Federal Government has announced that only buyers with a National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible to purchase subsidised milled rice, as it commences the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of rice to Nigerians at ₦40,000 per 50kg bag.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, made this announcement during the flag-off ceremony on Thursday.
He emphasized that the rice distribution will be strictly on a “one person, one bag” basis.
Kyari explained that the initiative is part of the government’s effort to address the ongoing food crisis in the country by making essential staples more affordable.
“This food intervention comes at a critical time as we face significant challenges in food supply,” Kyari stated.
He further highlighted the government’s broader efforts to alleviate the high cost of food commodities, including the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food items to vulnerable Nigerians and the current rice intervention of 30,000 metric tonnes.
To ensure transparency and fairness, Kyari noted that a government task force has been deployed to oversee the distribution process.
Verification will be carried out using identification methods such as NIN and phone numbers to prevent buyers from acquiring more than one bag and to ensure equitable access.
Kyari urged Nigerians to cooperate with government agencies handling the initiative, adding that the rice intervention is expected to drive down the price of rice and other staple foods.
“At the point of sale, with the NIN logged into the system, a code number and a Treasury receipt will be generated. The buyer can then take this receipt to the collection centre to pick up their bag of rice,” he added.
The current sale of subsidised rice follows an earlier announcement in July by the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed.
Initially, civil servants were instructed to register for the purchase, but the government later suspended the plan without explanation.
The program has now resumed under new guidelines aimed at providing relief to citizens amidst rising food costs.
