In an effort to help cushion the country’s current hardship, the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, on Wednesday began selling subsidised food items, including a 50-kilogram bag of rice, which will be sold for ₦38,700.
While speaking at the start of the exercise, which was held at Kware Local Government premises in Kware town, the governor noted that the initiative was aimed at easing the hardship caused by the rise of livelihood financing in the country, which has been caused by the removal of fuel subsidies. The governor noted that the reduction was reduced to a 55% discount on each commodity.
Speaking at the launch, held at the Kware Local Government premises in Kware town, Aliyu stated that the initiative aims to ease the burden on the people, particularly those at the grassroots level. To achieve this, the state government approved a substantial 55% discount on each commodity.
The governor noted that every 50kg bag of rice will be sold for ₦38,700, while the 25kg bag will cost ₦19,350, and the 10kg bag will be available for ₦7,740.
The governor also noted that the government will not be taking the money paid for the products from the individuals; rather, a particular account will be opened by the government, and citizens will be meant to deposit the amounts due for purchase. The governor noted that the amounts paid would be used to buy more food items for the residents, which they could buy at lower prices. He disclosed that the state government had spent ₦14.488 billion on the initiative, procuring 280 trailers of rice, with each ward in the state entitled to one truck, equivalent to 600 bags of rice.
The state governor extended appreciation to the leader of the state’s ruling party and former governor, Aliyu Wamakko, who has provided a high level of guidance to the state government. The governor noted that the guidance has helped the state government with its actions in the past months.
In an earlier address, the chairman of the committee, Chiso Dattijo, noted that due process would be followed in the sale of the products. He noted that after the lunch, the sale of raice had started at designated locations across the 242 wards in the state.
While speaking on the initiative, the project coordinator in Kware Local Government, Professor Malami Maishanu of Usman Danfodiyo University, charged the residents to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the state government. He appreciated the government’s implementation of a policy aimed at benefiting those at the grassroots level at a difficult moment in the nation.
The cost of living in Nigeria has continued to rise after the current administration announced the removal of the fuel subsidy which has increased the price of every product sold in the markets across the country.
