The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has explained that while the Federal Government’s plan to sell 50kg bags of rice for N40,000 is in progress, the specific sale centres cannot be disclosed publicly due to concerns about potential hijacking and hoarding by “people who have money.”
The minister made this statement while responding to journalists’ questions after a press briefing at the Radio House in Abuja on Wednesday.
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Earlier in the week, Idris had announced that the Federal Government had established centres across the country where Nigerians could buy the subsidized rice. He emphasized that this initiative is part of several measures by the Tinubu administration to alleviate the economic challenges faced by citizens.
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However, on Wednesday, Idris clarified that while the rice is being distributed to various states, the exact locations of the sale centres would not be revealed for security reasons, to ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the rice.
“It’s in the process of distribution to the various states.
“Sometimes, it is difficult to mention the routes and the time for security reasons.
“But the rice is already available, it is going to be sold at N40,000.
“The rice is already available, I can confirm that it is going to be sold at various points around the country.
“Care is being taken so that it would not be hijacked by people who have money. If we put it out there, they would go there and hoard it; those for whom this rice is intended will not now get the rice”, he said.
