The Federal Government has officially commenced the sale of subsidised rice to the general public today, Monday, according to an announcement from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. This initiative is aimed at easing the burden of skyrocketing rice prices, which have soared to as much as N90,000 per 50kg bag in various parts of the country.
The subsidised rice, initially distributed to civil and public servants, will now be available to the wider population. The government has promised to sell the rice at N40,000 per 50kg bag, a significant reduction from current market prices.
Despite the initiative, many Nigerians are frustrated with the slow pace of distribution. Some citizens have yet to see the promised rice or experience any benefits from the government’s intervention. Prices in some states, like Bayelsa and Kaduna, remain well above the subsidised rate, with reports of rice selling between N95,000 and N110,000 per bag in certain regions.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the launch of the rice distribution in August, acknowledged that both global and local challenges—including the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change—have contributed to the food crisis in Nigeria.
The government’s plan to release 30,000 metric tonnes of subsidised rice aims to provide relief, but many are skeptical. In Kaduna, civil servant La’ah Dauda expressed frustration, stating, “There’s no news of rice being sold at N40,000 per bag here. It’s still around N80,000 in parts of southern Kaduna.”
A senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that sales had begun initially for civil servants, but the general public would be able to purchase the rice starting Monday. “We started with civil servants because they have the necessary credentials,” the official said, adding that identity cards and National Identification Numbers were required to make purchases at designated sales points in Lagos.
The notice for the public sale, seen by several groups on Sunday, has raised hopes that the subsidised rice will soon be available across the country.
However, with food prices continuing to rise across Nigeria, many citizens remain anxious. In Lagos, Idoko Isaac reported that rice now sells for N90,000 to N95,000 per bag, a stark increase from previous prices of N79,000 to N85,000.
Experts warn that the government’s palliative measures, while helpful in the short term, do not address the root causes of Nigeria’s food crisis. “Palliatives are like first aid—they offer temporary relief but do not solve the underlying problem,” said Unekwu Onuche, an associate professor at the University of Africa in Bayelsa State.
As the government rolls out its rice subsidy program, many Nigerians are eager to see whether the N40,000 price point will be realised, offering some relief amid the nation’s escalating food inflation, which hit 40.87% in June 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
