The Federal Government recently launched an initiative to sell husked rice at a reduced price to staff of various media organisations in Kaduna. The move is aimed at alleviating the current food crisis and cushioning the effects of rising food prices in the country.
The media were allocated 149 bags of rice, with each buyer undergoing a vetting process conducted by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, to ensure transparency and accountability. Each member of the media was given a 50kg bag, while civil servants from various ministries and associations also received their respective allocations.
All buyers were able to access the bags of rice through a Point of Sale (POS) with their Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and National Identification Number (NIN).
Speaking on behalf of the media in Kaduna, the President of the Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Hajiya Asma’u Halilu, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for subsidizing rice at N40,000 per bag. She stressed the importance of sustaining such initiatives to ensure access for all, highlighting the positive impact of such action in the face of soaring prices in the markets.
In a context where food challenges have become a global reality, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stressed the importance of this food intervention launched under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu. He recalled that the objective is to combat hunger and ensure the fundamental right to food for all Nigerians.
This action by the Federal Government illustrates the commitment to the well-being of its citizens and underscores the importance of initiatives aimed at ensuring access to affordable basic foodstuffs despite the current economic challenges. Cooperation between citizens and authorities is needed to facilitate the implementation of such measures and ensure a more secure and prosperous future for all.
Thus, this distribution of subsidized rice by the Federal Government in Kaduna is a reminder of the importance of solidarity and mutual aid in times of crisis, and raises questions on how similar initiatives could be more effectively deployed in the future to ensure food security for all citizens.