Residents of Abuja have faced challenges in their attempt to purchase the federal government-approved 50kg bags of rice at ₦40,000, aimed at cushioning the high prices of the staple. Despite the subsidy, many buyers have found it difficult to access the rice, as the designated points of sale are unclear, causing confusion and frustration.
The programme, which commenced last Thursday, was announced by the Director of the Strategic Grains Reserve, Engr. Haruna Sule, who mentioned there would be sales points at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security headquarters and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, Sule did not provide specific details on where residents could purchase the rice, leaving many searching for more information.
When contacted, Sule revealed that there were five points of sale currently in operation, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, FCTA, the Head of Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) office. He emphasized that measures were in place to prevent the rice from being hijacked by hoodlums, which is why the point of sale and the collection point were kept separate.
However, when The Guardian visited the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, a long queue of mostly civil servants was seen waiting for hours to purchase the rice. One civil servant, Mr. Adekunle, expressed frustration over the slow process, saying he had been waiting since 6:30 am, yet by 1:00 pm, he still had not purchased the rice. Many in the queue complained about the inefficiency, as only one computer system was available to process the details of hundreds of people.
To buy the rice, buyers are required to present their National Identity Number (NIN) and phone number, after which they receive a code to proceed to the collection point. However, the slow pace of data entry has caused significant delays.
Civil society groups have begun criticizing the cumbersome process. David Ugolo, Executive Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), praised the government’s effort but stressed the need for more efficient systems. He suggested the government establish decentralized distribution centers, particularly in rural areas, to ease access for the poorest households.
Ugolo also emphasized that while transparency is important, the government should adopt faster methods to ensure smoother distribution to reduce the burdens on citizens.
