Federal Government Announces NIN Requirement for Subsidized Rice Purchase at ₦40,000 Per 50kg Bag
The Federal Government has announced that only buyers with a National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible to purchase subsidized rice, as it begins the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Nigerians at a rate of ₦40,000 per 50kg bag.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this at the flag-off ceremony on Thursday.
The minister emphasized that the rice would be sold on a “one person, one bag” basis to ensure fair distribution among citizens.
Kyari explained that the rice intervention is part of the government’s efforts to alleviate the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria.
“This food intervention is timely, considering the challenges we face as citizens of this great nation,” he stated.
“It is one of the numerous efforts by the current administration to cushion the effect of the high cost of food commodities.”
The minister highlighted that the government has released 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to vulnerable populations, and the current sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice is aimed at further mitigating the impact of food inflation on Nigerian households.
Strict Buyer Verification Process
To ensure transparency and prevent abuse of the program, Kyari noted that a multi-disciplinary government task force has been deployed to oversee the distribution process.
Beneficiaries will be verified through identification methods, including their NIN and phone numbers, to prevent multiple purchases by the same individuals.
“This is to ensure that no one person can obtain more than one 50kg bag of rice at the expense of other citizens,” Kyari said.
He called on citizens to cooperate with the relevant government agencies to ensure the success of this initiative.
“We expect that the injection of 30,000 metric tonnes of rice into Nigeria’s food balance sheet will help reduce the price of rice and other similar food items,” Kyari added.
Procedure for Purchasing the Subsidized Rice
Haruna Sule, Director of Strategic Grains Reserve at the Ministry of Agriculture, outlined the process for purchasing the subsidized rice.
He explained that civil servants can access the rice at designated sales points by using their Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) details.
“To qualify for the one-person-one-bag policy, you must have a National Identification Number. Civil servants can use their IPPIS details, while all buyers must provide a phone number,” Sule explained.
“At the point of sale, the NIN will be logged into the system, and a code number and Treasury receipt will be generated, allowing the buyer to collect their bag from the designated collection center.”
Sule further detailed that the receipt will indicate the time and location of collection to prevent overcrowding.
The collection point is separate from the sales point to streamline the process. “At the collection point, you present your code to our officials, and you will be handed a bag of rice,” he added.
Background of the Initiative
In July, the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, announced plans for the sale of subsidized rice.
Following this, the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs instructed civil servants to register for the program through its Human Resources Management Department.
However, the plan was later suspended without explanation. The current initiative marks a renewed effort to provide affordable rice to Nigerians amid escalating food prices.
