Nigeria’s Government Launches Initiative to Combat Rising Food Prices

In a bid to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians affected by high food prices, the Federal Government has launched a massive rice distribution program. The initiative, which kicked off on Thursday, aims to provide 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to citizens at a subsidized rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, flagged off the program at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, emphasizing the importance of the initiative in addressing the country’s food security challenges. According to Kyari, the program is a response to the President’s directive to ensure that Nigerian citizens do not go to bed hungry.

The Minister acknowledged that the recent global food price shocks, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukraine war, and climate change, have had a significant impact on Nigeria’s food security. He urged citizens to cooperate with government agencies to ensure the success of the program.

To ensure transparency and prevent fraudulent activities, the government has put in place measures to verify the identity of beneficiaries using National Identification Numbers (NIN) and phone numbers. The program is expected to crash the price of rice and other food substitutes, making it more accessible to Nigerians.

The Minister expressed optimism that the injection of 30,000 metric tonnes of rice into the country’s food balance sheet will have a positive impact on the economy and the lives of citizens. He appealed to Nigerians to support the Tinubu administration’s efforts to uphold the fundamental right to food for all citizens.

The program is part of the government’s efforts to cushion the effect of high food prices and ensure food security for all Nigerians. With the launch of this initiative, the government is demonstrating its commitment to addressing the country’s food security challenges and improving the lives of its citizens.