A 50kg bag of rice is now selling for N8,000 in Ebonyi state, eastern Nigeria – this contrasts markedly with the over N20,000 price tag for imported rice.
The cheering news was reported by spokesman of Central Bank of Nigeria, Isaac Okoroafor in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on Tuesday.. Okoroafor is the Acting Director, Corporate Communication, CBN.
He spoke at a sensitization workshop for the CBN Anchor programme for farmers.
“We should eat Nigerian rice provided for by the CBN Anchor Programme; 50 Kg of local rice is now N8, 000 in Ebonyi. Already, the Abia Government has ordered rice from Ebonyi for Christmas,”.
He said that the Anchor Borrowers Programme for the promotion of Agriculture will make the country begin exportation of rice by 2017.
“We must rid ourselves of eating foreign rice that has been stored for over nine years in Thailand, Vietnam and India. Nigerian rice is fresh and healthier.
He further said: “What we have done with this programme so far is to create jobs through farming, especially for the unemployed youths.
“Nigerian youths must wake up, dust themselves up and join this worthy campaign.,” he added
– NAN