The Minister explained that rice has been distributed across designated locations pending commencement of sales to Nigerians.
The Nigerian government has said its N40,000 per 50-kilogram bag of rice is now available across locations in the country.
This was made public by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris while reacting to questions by Journalists during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Minister explained that rice has been distributed across designated locations pending commencement of sales to Nigerians.
According to him, the government is still unveiling modalities to ensure that the sale of the rice will not be hijacked by a few.
He assured that the government would provide Nigerians with details of the centres across the country where they can get the product at the said cost.
“I can confirm to you that the Rice at N40,000 per 50-kilogram bag is available. It will be sold at different centres across the country.
“We will give Nigerians details on the point-by-buy locations of where it’s been sold once the sales kickoff.
“Care is being taken so that it will not be hijacked by those who have money to purchase in large quantities and mop it up with the intended beneficiaries getting it”, he said.
The Minister’s clarification comes amid growing concerns that the product has yet to be available in Nigerian markets for N40,000 per bag.
Recall that the government on Monday announced that the price of a bag of rice has been reduced by 50 percent to N40,000 per 50kg bag while appealing to citizens to shun the August 1, 2024 protest.