Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory are facing difficulties obtaining the Federal Government’s subsidized 50kg bag of rice priced at ₦40,000.
A correspondent from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that at the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) headquarters, which serves as a payment center, hundreds of residents were seen waiting in long lines. They have been attempting to access the rice since the process began on Monday, but many have been unable to complete their transactions.
Residents arriving at the office as early as 6 a.m. have faced challenges with the cumbersome process. Despite getting information about the payment process, many reported being unable to make payments or even get their names recorded.
The Federal Government had launched the sale of 30,000 metric tons of milled rice at a subsidized rate of ₦40,000 per 50kg bag. NAIC is responsible for processing payments and issuing receipts, which are then used to collect the rice from another location in the Central Area.
However, accessing the payment center has proven difficult, with only a few people being admitted at a time. Mr. Emmanuel Oshodi, a civil servant, reported that when he visited the center on Tuesday, he was informed that they were only attending to journalists, who also faced delays and issues with the process.
The situation has led to frustration among residents who have been unable to complete their transactions and collect the subsidized rice.