The Federal government has announced resumption of the sale of subsidized rice to the citizens, especially vulnerable households.
However, interested buyers are required to present certain documents to qualify for the palliative, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who spoke recently in Abuja.
According to him, the rice approved to help Nigerians cushion the effects of the current hardship in the country, may face some problems in terms of distribution.
The minister said: “The Federal government is aware of the potential challenges associated with the sales of an important staple such as rice, and has deployed a multi-disciplinary machinery of government to ensure the transparency, wider reach, and success of this exercise.”
To resolve the challenge, Kyari emphasised measures put in place to ensure that it serves the purpose.
These include limiting distribution to one bag of rice per person, and verifying beneficiaries through identification methods such as the NIN and phone numbers.
He, however, expressed optimism that the injection of 30,000 metric tons (1,000 trucks of 30 metric tons each) of rice into Nigeria’s food supply will significantly reduce rice prices and benefit other closely related food items.
The rice will be distributed to states across the country to ensure equal access, but beneficiaries must have the required documents before making a purchase.
Documents required to access the N40,000 per 50kg bag rice
To access the N40,000 per 50kg bag rice, citizens need to present the following:
- National Identification Number (NIN)
- Valid ID card,
- ATM card for registration and payment.
- After completing these steps, beneficiaries will need to clear a separate verification process by government officials before receiving their rice.
Abuja window:
Abuja residents are required to go to the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) to obtain theirs, taking along the documents specified above.