Abuja Residents Struggle To Access 50kg Subsidized Rice For N40,000

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are frustrated over the difficulty in accessing the Federal Government’s subsidized 50kg bag of rice at N40,000.

The process, which began on Monday, has seen hundreds of residents waiting in line at the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) headquarters, a designated payment center, without making any headway.

Many have expressed dissatisfaction with the cumbersome process, which requires individuals to arrive as early as 6 a.m. to have their names recorded on a list, only to wait for hours or days without being attended to.

Some have reported being turned away, with officials citing reasons such as attending to journalists only or technical issues with the server.

The Federal Government launched the sale of 30,000 metric tons of milled rice at a subsidized price of ₦40,000 per 50kg bag to alleviate economic hardship and enhance food security, however, the implementation has been marred by difficulties in accessing the payment centers.

Residents have to arrive early to have their names recorded on a list, only to wait for hours or days without being attended to.

Only a few individuals are allowed into the payment center at a time, leading to long queues and frustration.

Residents have suggested simplifying the payment process by creating more payment centers or allowing online payments.

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Mr. Ebenezer Ayiri, a resident, said “the process is stressful and unnecessarily delayed, so, the payment process should be simplified, I think payment should be done online”.

The government’s initiative, though well-intentioned, requires urgent attention to address the logistical challenges and ensure that the subsidized rice reaches those who need it most.

The frustration among residents is palpable, with many questioning the government’s commitment to alleviating their suffering.

Mr. Uche Joseph, a frustrated resident, said, “I don’t think it is worthwhile, wasting my time here because of a bag of rice.

“The government should design an easier method of access to the commodity”.

The NAIC office serves as a payment center, after which successful applicants would be given a receipt to pick up the bag of rice at another location in the Central Area.

However, making payment has been difficult, with many people struggling to gain entrance.

An official from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) even threatened to shut down the exercise when denied access to the building.

The lack of comment from NAIC officials has further exacerbated the situation.

Simultaneously, The Nigeria Police have apprehended Taimako Mato, the leader of a gun running syndicate, along with four others.

Mato, who was a weapons instructor at a Boko Haram camp, was caught during a police operation in August.