The Federal Government has initiated the sale of 50kg bags of rice for ₦40,000 in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as part of efforts to alleviate the economic challenges caused by the removal of fuel subsidies. Governor Dapo Abiodun launched the program at a ceremony held at the Arcade Ground in Abeokuta, announcing that similar sales of other subsidized food items like garri, rice, and beans would soon take place across the state’s 20 local government areas.
Governor Abiodun emphasized that the initiative aims to extend relief to grassroots communities, with foodstuffs being sold at highly subsidized prices. “We will soon implement our own version of this scheme across the 20 local government areas to ensure wider reach,” he stated.
He praised the efforts of the state’s Head of Service and his team, noting that both the federal and state governments are committed to inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance. The governor further explained that the sale of subsidized rice in Ogun Central Senatorial District would soon be followed by sales in Ogun West (Ilaro) and Ogun East (Ijebu-Ode).
The distribution is designed to cover various groups, including civil servants, private sector workers, artisans, trade unions, market women, and community development associations. To ensure fairness, payments will be made through Point of Sale (PoS) machines, with beneficiaries undergoing physical verification. National Identity Numbers (NIN) will be checked to prevent double registration or fraudulent activity.
Governor Abiodun commended President Bola Tinubu for spearheading this initiative, acknowledging his efforts to tackle food inflation. He explained that if fuel subsidies had not been removed, Nigeria would have spent over ₦11 trillion in a year.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by Ayo Ajayi, also lauded the state’s well-structured approach to the program, noting that other states would adopt Ogun’s model for future sales.
Chief Waheed Oloyede, the state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, praised the governor for his ongoing efforts to settle pensioners’ gratuities and for being the first to embrace the Federal Government’s subsidy program.
