Ogun State Introduces Sale of Subsidised Rice Amid Broader Food Initiative
Abeokuta, Ogun State – On Thursday, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the launch of a program to sell Federal Government subsidised rice throughout the state. This initiative aims to address food inflation and enhance food security for residents.
During a ceremony held at the Arcade Ground of the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the governor revealed that the distribution of other subsidised food items, including garri and beans, will soon follow across all 20 local government areas. “We will implement this scheme in each local government to reach our grassroots effectively,” Abiodun stated.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration between federal and state governments, emphasizing principles such as inclusiveness, transparency, fairness, and accountability as essential to sustainable development. He expressed gratitude to the state’s Head of Service and his team for their efforts in executing this initiative.
The governor outlined that the distribution plan will target various groups, including civil servants, members of trade unions, artisans, students, market women, community associations, and religious organizations. Furthermore, he assured the citizens that a well-organized framework has been established, involving the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Security Adviser’s office, to guarantee fair distribution across the local governments.
Abiodun conducted the official launch for Ogun Central Senatorial District in Abeokuta, with plans to begin sales in Ilaro and Ijebu-Ode for Ogun West and Ogun East Senatorial Districts, respectively. He urged the public to adhere to the rules established by the organizing committee and maintain order at sales locations.
To promote accountability, the governor specified that payments would not be accepted in cash; instead, transactions would utilize Point of Sale (PoS) terminals. He also highlighted the verification process, stating that beneficiaries would need to present their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to prevent fraudulent registrations.
“This initiative will guarantee that these palliatives are distributed equitably and transparently,” he assured. Abiodun expressed his appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and commitment to tackling food inflation, indicating that without recent liberalization in the sale and distribution of petroleum products, the country could have faced over N11 trillion in additional costs in a year.
Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, the Head of Service, noted that this initiative, powered by the Federal Government, aims to improve the livelihoods of the citizens. Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Mrs. Ayo Ajayi, commended Ogun State for establishing an exemplary framework for the sale of subsidised rice, asserting that this model would be adopted in other states.
Kyari elaborated that the initiative aims to alleviate hardship for citizens by lowering food prices. He informed that obtaining a subsidised 50-kilogram bag of rice would require a payment of N40,000 via Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) alongside NIN verification.
Additionally, Waheed Oloyede, the state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, praised Governor Abiodun for consistently releasing funds for the payment of pensioners’ gratuities and acknowledged the governor’s leadership in being the first in the country to launch this federal initiative.
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