The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Sokoto State civil servants at a subsidised price of N40,000 per 50kg bag.
The flag-off ceremony took place on Thursday at the Cabinet Office in Sokoto, led by the Sokoto State Head of Service, Alhaji Sulaiman S/Fulani.
Alhaji Sulaiman urged civil servants to conduct themselves responsibly during the purchase process.
He explained that buyers must provide a code number to receive a treasury receipt as proof of payment, after which they will be issued a collection receipt indicating the pick-up location and time.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto for ensuring Sokoto was among the first states to benefit from this initiative, which aims to alleviate the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria.
A Federal Government representative at the event emphasised that the rice would be sold on a strict “one person, one bag” basis to prevent hoarding and ensure fair distribution.
“Beneficiaries will be verified using their National Identification Number (NIN) and must present a valid ATM card with N40,000 for payment”
He said a total of 33 trucks carrying 19,800 bags of rice have been allocated to Sokoto State. 65% (12,870 bags) are designated for state civil servants, while the remaining 35% will go to federal civil servants and private sector workers in the state.
Dignitaries present at the event included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Mustapha Abubakar Alkali, Sokoto SEMA Special Adviser Hon. Aminu Liman Bodinga, SEMA Executive Secretary Bashir Muhammad, and SEMA Director of Relief and Rehabilitation Mustapha Umar, among others.
This initiative is expected to provide much-needed relief to civil servants and other beneficiaries in Sokoto State as food prices continue to rise nationwide.