Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the commencement of sales for Federal Government subsidized rice in the state on Thursday. This initiative aims to provide residents with affordable food options and will expand to include various other subsidized food items throughout the 20 local governments.

During the event held at the Arcade Ground of the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Abiodun emphasized the importance of this program in enhancing food accessibility. “We will soon implement our version of this scheme in every local government, which means expanding our reach to grassroots communities. Food items such as garri, rice, and beans will be offered at significantly reduced prices,” he stated.

The governor highlighted the commitment of both the federal and state governments to sustainable development, guided by principles of inclusiveness and transparency. He praised the Head of Service and his team for their dedication to this initiative.

Distribution will target various groups, including civil servants, organized private sectors, artisans, trade unions, NGOs, student organizations, market women, and community development associations. Abiodun reassured the public that a structured plan has been developed by the Head of Service, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Security Adviser’s office to ensure fair distribution across the state.

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As part of the rollout, subsidized rice sales will begin in Abeokuta for the Ogun Central Senatorial District, followed by launches in Ilaro for Ogun West and Ijebu-Ode for Ogun East. The governor urged beneficiaries to observe law and order at sales points and adhere to the established schedule.

“To guarantee accountability, payments will be made exclusively through Point of Sale (PoS) machines. Beneficiaries will undergo physical verification at the point of sale, and no double registrations will be permitted. We will verify National Identity Numbers (NIN) to eliminate fraudulent activities,” he added.

Abiodun commended President Bola Tinubu for spearheading this initiative, recognizing it as a vital step in addressing food inflation in the country. He noted that without the liberalization of petroleum product sales, Nigeria would have faced expenses exceeding N11 trillion in a year.

In support of the initiative, the Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, stated that it is aimed at improving citizens’ livelihoods. Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Mrs. Ayo Ajayi, praised Ogun State for having an exemplary template for the subsidized rice sales, indicating that it would be utilized in other states.

Kyari emphasized that this initiative is intended to alleviate the burden of rising food prices, with the process requiring verification of the NIN and a payment of N40,000 for a subsidized 50-kilogram bag of rice via ATM.

Waheed Oloyede, chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners in Ogun State, expressed gratitude to Governor Abiodun for the continuous financial support for pensioners’ gratuities and acknowledged him as a pioneer in implementing the Federal Government’s initiative in the state.