Great news as presidency releases crucial update on Nigerian rice, shares reassuring photo
- The presidency has explained why Nigerians should buy and consume locally-cultivated rice
- Lauretta Onochie, on Sunday, March 15, noted that rice from other countries is scarce and expensive at the moment
- Onochie said a bag of Nigerian rice currently sells for N21,000, while the imported species of the grain are sold at N28,000 at the minimum
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According to the presidency on Sunday, March 14, there has been a scarcity of foreign rice weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari reopened Nigeria's land borders.
A presidential media aide, Lauretta Onochie, on her Twitter page, disclosed that the development has been confirmed by rice sellers in Abuja.
At the moment, a bag of the food crop locally cultivated sells at N7,000 less than the price for which it is bought outside the country.
Quoting one of the dealers, Hajia Rahmatu Mohammed, who recently spoke with newsmen, Onochie tweeted:
"There has been a scarcity of foreign rice weeks after reopening of the borders
"Hajia Rahmatu Mohammed, a rice seller at Utako Market Abuja says:
“It has gone up to ₦28,000, yet its not available to us. The Nigerian rice is still cheaper as its now ₦21,000"
Source: Twitter
This good news implies that the Buhari-led administration is not resting on its oars to bring about rapid growth and development in the agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, the Lagos state government had announced that it is working hard to ensure the availability of rice for Lagosians during the festive period.
Lagos commissioner for agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, said on Monday, December 14, 2020, that the state government will begin the sales of rice to residents before the Christmas celebration at the time.
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The interventionist programme was in collaboration with the Kebbi state government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), according to the commissioner.
Olusanya said that about 100,000 bags of 50kg were being expected for sales at N20,000 per bag. She said:
“We are intervening in the area of availability of rice for the festive season, and it will be sold at N20,000 per bag.
“The most important thing is that we have rice available, be it Lake Rice or other brands."
Onyirioha Nnamdi is a graduate of Literature and English Language at the University of Lagos. He is a Politics/Current Affairs Editor who writes on news and political topics for Legit.ng. He brings into his reporting a wealth of experience in creative and analytical writing. Nnamdi has a major interest in local and global politics.
Source: Legit.ng
