The federal government is planning to supply rice to police personnel at a subsidised rate.
Meanwhile, the police authorities have directed that the personnel interested in benefitting from the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD) should submit their names, according to an internal memo obtained by SaharaReporters.
One of such memos dated November 8, 2024 urged Divisional Police Commissioners, sectional heads and others to treat the matter as urgent.
“Be informed that the command is expecting supply of rice for sale from the Federal Ministry of Agric at a subsidised rate. You are to compile and forward list of those interested to buy. Treat as very urgent and important please,” the memo reads.
In October, civil servants in Abuja voiced their concerns following the abrupt suspension of the government’s subsidised rice sales priced at N40,000 per 50-kilogram bag.
Their unease was prompted by the sudden disappearance of officials at various registration units for purchasing the rice.
President Bola Tinubu’s government had pledged to sell 30,000 metric tonnes of 50-kilogramme bags of milled rice to Nigerians at the subsidised rate.
Mr. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, explained that the initiative was part of government’s efforts to reduce food prices in the Nigerian market.
The sale commenced and lasted over a week before being suspended without prior notice, leaving many workers who had not benefitted feeling frustrated.
