FG N40,000 rice out of reach, Nigerians lament

Nigerians have again expressed frustration over the difficulties in accessing the Federal Government’s N40,000 subsidised rice launched on September 6, 2024, in Abuja.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, had asked interested Nigerians to be ready to provide their National Identification Numbers with an Automated Teller Machine card as the only means of payment.

However, many Nigerians have complained that the sales points are inaccessible.

On September 15, an official from the agriculture ministry, in an attempt to address public concerns, informed our correspondent that sales to non-civil servants would begin on Monday, September 16.

“We started with civil and public servants because they possess the necessary credentials. Before purchasing, one must present a valid identity card and National Identification Number.

“Sales points were set up at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission,” the official, who spoke in confidence due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, explained.

He assured Nigerians that sales to the general public would begin on September 16, reiterating the government’s commitment to ensuring everyone benefits from the initiative.

“Now that many civil servants have benefited, we are moving to the general public,” the official added.

While the sales did begin as promised, citizens are lamenting the challenges of traveling from the outskirts of cities to urban centres, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory, to access the sales and collection points.

Many persons outside the FCT have reported being unable to locate any sales points at all.

In the Kubwa area of the FCT, a resident, Blessing Ameh, said, “Not at all. I have not seen any sales point in my area in Kubwa.”

The situation was similar in Oyo State, where another resident, Deborah Johnson, remarked, “We have not seen even a single bag here.”

Experts have suggested that for the initiative to be effective, the government must decentralise the payment and collection points, allowing people to purchase the rice without incurring additional transportation costs.

An agricultural economist at the Centre for Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Tobi Awolope, said, “Accessibility is a crucial component of food security. Issues around the supply chain, particularly the high cost of transporting food, have posed a major threat to societal welfare, especially for rural dwellers.

“Access to food—both in terms of proximity and affordability—is a fundamental human right. Therefore, collection centers should be located where all social groups can easily reach them.”

While Nigerians appreciate the government’s efforts to alleviate the impact of rising food inflation, they are urging authorities to ensure that the rice distribution reaches areas where the majority of the population resides.

A resident of Karu, Ibrahim Abdullahi, shared his experience. “I was at the sales point located at the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation until the close of business yesterday (Thursday), but I couldn’t make a payment due to the overwhelming crowd.

“Today (Friday), I’ve been trying again, but to no avail. The government should decentralise the collection points so we can access the rice in our local areas.”