The Sokoto State government has announced a massive 55 percent discount rates for rice and other basic but essential commodities and food items.
The discount was announced by the state governor Ahmed Aliyu during the inauguration of the sales of subsidised items in Kware LGA. The inauguration signalled the commencement of the programme across the 244 wards.
Aliyu disclosed that the programme aims to ameliorating the economic hardship citizens face, assuring that the programme would be sustained to herald food security in Sokoto.
The Governor also disclosed that the State government had spent N14.4 billion to procure 280 trucks of rice for onward sale to the public. “Each ward will receive 600 bags of 50 kg rice, sold at a 55 percent discount rate. We have reduced the price of a 50 kg bag to N38,700, a 25kg bag to N19,350, and a 10kg bag to N7,740”, he said.
Aliyu added that his government did not intend to collect the proceeds from the sales. He said it would open a special account where the funds would be used to buy more foodstuff for the programme’s sustainability.
“I have also directed the sales committee to provide smaller measurements for those who cannot afford the 10 kg bags”, he added.
The Governor urged religious scholars in the state to use their pulpits to continuously encourage wealthy individuals to support the less-privileged in their communities. He further assured that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure that the commodities reached the intended beneficiaries.
The chairman of the sales committee, Chiso Dattijo, assured the governor that due process would be strictly followed during the sales process.
