Posted on August, 5, 2024 at 09:33 am
In Niger State, residents have shown an overwhelming preference for rice, as the state government begins sales of subsidised grains across its 25 local government areas.
This high demand for rice has resulted in its rapid depletion, while stocks of millet and sorghum remain plentiful.
According to The Nation’s findings, each local government area was allocated 1,000 bags of 10kg rice, millet and sorghum. Despite the equal distribution, the rice was exhausted swiftly, with more than half of the millet and sorghum still available.
A state government committee established guidelines enables buyers to purchase two types of grains per transaction, choosing between rice and millet, rice and sorghum, or millet and sorghum. However, upon visiting Chachanga and Bosso local government areas, it was clear that the rice had sold out, leaving the less sought-after millet and sorghum still in stock.
Danlami Maiangwan, the Council Secretary of Bosso Local Government Area, reported that they had received 999 bags of rice, 1,000 bags each of millet and sorghum, with beans and maize expected the following week. He disclosed that they would have waited for the beans and maize but due to the tension and allegations by some people that the council is trying to hoard the grains made them commence the sales.
“We deliberate and resolved that each ward will have equal quantity of grains; so each ward was allocated 100 bags of rice, millet and sorghum. We had 3,000 of the products and we followed the template which stated that one person is entitled to two varieties of the goods. According to the government, these sales won’t end now, it will continue for the next two months.
People demand more for the rice. Everyone wants rice, so we still have a lot of millet and sorghum not bought. We also know that people will be interested more the beans and the maize that is coming next week. So we intend to sell two of the varieties together. We will add the remaining millet and sorghum and sell alongside the beans and maize”, he disclosed.
Related News
Maiangwan stated that despite efforts to balance distribution equally among wards, the quantity was insufficient for the area’s over 3,000 residents. The local government anticipates that the upcoming supply of beans and maize will prompt renewed interest.
“Our population is much in Bosso Local Government, so the 3,000 given to us will not be enough; and several people were not able to benefit from it so they felt we are refusing to sell to them. But on our part, we just want to be fair to every ward. But since this will continue for two months, we are assured that more will come and everyone will benefit.”
In Chachanga Secretariat, officials were unavailable for comments. Members of the committee in charge of collecting the money and the store were not ready to speak, as they said they had no authority to speak to the media. An anonymous staff member, however, indicated that continued government sales might reduce market prices due to decreased demand for privately sold grains.
At the time of The Nation’s visit, rice was sold out, with only millet and sorghum remained.
The grains were offered at 50% below market rates. A 10kg bag of rice were priced at N8,000, millet and sorghum at N5,000 each, while beans and maize are set to be sold for N9,000 and N5,500 respectively.
The Niger State Governor had announced this initiative during a recent stakeholders’ meeting, aiming to alleviate economic pressures on residents. The Governor also promised a 90% reduction in grain prices over the next six months.
Source: The Nation