AS food prices still remain high across the country, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, Sunday, urged the Federal Government to further subsidize the N40,000 per 50kg bag of rice and revisit the condition of National Identification Number, NIN, presentation including telephone number before purchasing the commodity.
Speaking with Vanguard in an interview, the CSOs said there should be serious consideration for Nigerians who are in Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camps, and the very vulnerable groups who do not have such documents to present before buying a bag of rice, and called on government to list out and tell Nigerians the designated shops they can access to buy the subsidized rice.
NIN condition difficult for poor and hungry Nigerians
The Executive Director, ED, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, said: "I see the plan by the Federal Government to subsidize rice so that Nigerians can buy a bag of 50kg at N40,000 as a short-term measure. This is a good approach to address the high rate of poverty in the country as many people are no longer able to afford two meals a day.
"The use of identification mediums such as the NIN and phone numbers to control access seem to be government option of ensuring that the commodity gets to the intended audience. But the truth is that the population of poor and hungry Nigerians is far more than those that have NIN.
Commodity'll be hijacked and smuggled to private shops
However, the usual occurrence is that the commodity will be hijacked and smuggled to private shops to sell at higher prices. The situation we found ourselves in the country is most unfortunate.
Ordinarily, once the government announces a programme, citizens should be able to get the rice at designated shops to make purchases with ease. If you take example from the time fuel was cheap in the country, marketers were smuggling the product to neighbouring countries to sell.
Why do you think the sale of rice will be different? Any measure to ensure that the rice gets to the intended persons is welcomed. In the long term, the government should evolve workable policies to reduce the hardship Nigerians are currently facing.
If the commodity will be freely available for people at the grassroots to buy at N40,000 per 50kg bag, it is better than buying it at the current rate which ranges from N80,000 to N110,000 and even more. Government should implement targeted Subsidies and Vouchers to further reduce the price of basic food items to address affordability issues.
In addition, cash transfer programmes should be implemented in collaboration with independent monitors to provide direct financial support to beneficiaries. This approach has been successful in other contexts, reducing the risks associated with physical distribution, such as diversion and logistical challenges.
My advice to FG on affordability, accessibility, availability and sustainability
Improving the Social Register: A well-maintained and accurate social register is critical for identifying and reaching the poor and most vulnerable population. These should be the first target for the subsidized food items.
Decentralized Distribution Centres: Establish decentralized distribution centres across the country especially in rural and remote areas to reduce travel burdens on the poorest households in a n attempt to purchase the commodity.
These centres should be accessible, well-stocked, and managed transparently to prevent shortages and ensure timely availability of food supplies.
Sustainability and Long-Term Strategies: Learning from Successful Models: The suggestion to establish a food corporation modelled after successful systems like the Food Corporation of India (FCI) can be a strategic move. The Nigerian government can study such models and adapt relevant practices to suit local conditions.
Support Local Agricultural Development Initiatives: To enhance sustainability, it's important to invest in local agricultural production initiatives.
Strengthening the agricultural sector by providing farmers with inputs, training, and access to markets can reduce dependency on imports and create a more resilient food supply chain.
Address security challenges so that peoples can go to farms freely to produce food items as a way of making food items available which will also reduce the prices.
N40,000 50kg bag of rice still unaffordable -AAN
Meanwhile, the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, Andrew Mamedu, said, "ActionAid Nigeria recognises the Federal Government for acknowledging the economic hardship faced by Nigerians due to high inflation and taking steps to mitigate it.
"However, we believe that the subsidised rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag of rice is still unaffordable for many Nigerians, particularly those living in poverty. To make this intervention truly pro-poor, we recommend further subsidies to reduce the cost and reach the most vulnerable populations.
Verification Concerns
We also express concern that relying solely on NIN or phone numbers for identification may exclude vulnerable populations like the elderly, IDPs, rural communities, or those without access to identification services.
To address this, we suggest accepting alternative forms of identification, such as voter's cards or community verification by community leaders, to ensure wider coverage. This way, we can ensure fair distribution among families in rural communities without incidences of fraud.
Sustainability
In addition to this intervention, ActionAid Nigeria recommends implementing a gradual price reduction plan to make rice more affordable for the masses, supporting local rice production to reduce reliance on imports and stabilise prices, and establishing an independent monitoring mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution process.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Supporting local rice production is a crucial factor in reducing reliance on imports and stabilising prices. By investing in local agriculture, the government can ensure a steady supply of rice, reduce the burden on foreign exchange, and create jobs for Nigerians.
Availability
To ensure the subsidised rice reaches the intended beneficiaries, the government must prioritise its availability across the country. This can be achieved by decentralizing distribution channels and making the rice accessible in various locations, including rural areas and community centres as earlier mentioned.
Additionally, the government should consider partnering with local organisations and community leaders to facilitate distribution and ensure that the rice reaches the most vulnerable populations. By doing so, the government can guarantee that the subsidised rice is widely available, easily accessible, and effectively addresses the food security needs of Nigerians.
Transparency and Monitoring
For accountability's sake, establishing an independent monitoring mechanism is essential to ensure transparency in the distribution process. This would prevent fraud and ensure that the subsidised rice reaches the intended beneficiaries. This will build trust in the government's interventions.
