Information Minister explains delay in unveiling rice purchase centres nationwide

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris, has given reasons why the centres for the purchase of the Federal Government’s rice at N40,000 per 50-kg bag have not been made public.

According to him, the sales points was not announced to prevent “wealthy individuals from monopolizing the supply and hoarding” the commodity.

Idris said this while fielding questions from journalists at a media briefing held at the Radio House in Abuja on Wednesday.

Persecondnews recalls that the FG, through the minister on Monday, said it had created centres across the country where Nigerians could purchase 50-kg bags of rice for N40,000.

According to Idris, the initiative is part of a series of efforts by the Tinubu administration aimed at improving the lives of citizens.

The minister said the bags of rice are being dispatched to states, but the locations of the sales centres will be kept confidential for now to prevent disruption and ensure the initiative reaches its intended beneficiaries.

He said: “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.”

Idris outlined other Tinubu administration’s efforts, including the National Education Loan Fund, which has garnered 120,000 applications and aims to support two million students, and the N110 billion Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, a two-year programme aimed at empowering youth.