Amidst the growing cost of living crisis in Nigeria with February 2024 food inflation hitting 37.92%, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has launched a National Rice Relief Programme, aimed at distributing over 1,000,000 10kg bags of rice across the West African country.
There has been a surge in the cost of living since May 29 when the subsidies on petroleum products were removed. Labour union seems unimpressed despite the government’s recent palliative measures, although some corporate citizens have used the crisis to begin humanitarian campaigns in which food and basic items have been distributed to sections of the public.
In a recent “Food Security Update,” the World Bank issued a warning, stating that suffering brought on by insecurity would continue until May 2024 in certain local government areas in the Nigerian states of Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, and Adamawa.
The chairman of the foundation and Group President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, emphasized the timeliness of the campaign during the programme’s flag-off in Kano State on Saturday, March 23 and called on all levels of government to step up measures to promote economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation in Nigeria. Governments may promote investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship—all crucial for sustainable development and prosperity—by fostering an atmosphere that allows private businesses to flourish.
He stated, “Our distribution of rice symbolises our commitment to upholding the values of compassion and solidarity that are at the core of our humanity.”
“The modalities for the programme involve collaboration with state and local governments and local community partners to ensure effective delivery of the rice to the most vulnerable across the country, regardless of state, tribe, gender, religion, politics, or other attributes, “ a statement from the company said.
Through the production of iodized salt, vitamin A-fortified sugar, and research into the micronutrient fortification of staple foods including rice, wheat, and bouillon cubes, the Dangote Group has been actively investing in food fortification throughout the Nigerian food industry.
Meanwhile, some analysts have argued that the country needs more than interventionist programmes to scale out of its current socio-economic crisis.