April 30, 2008
Bangkok - The Nigerian government yesterday ordered 500,000 metric tons of rice from Thailand as part of the short-term measures to fight its food crisis.
"We envisage already some short fall in supply. We therefore took a decision to import 500,000 metric tonnes of rice to be sold to our people at subsidized rates," Governor Segun Agagu of the south western state of Ogun told reporters after a meeting of President Umaru Yar'Adua with the 36 state governors.
Nigerian government also released 11,000 metric tons of rice from the strategic grain reserves to increase supply and deal with food crisis.
The two measures are to cope with the escalating price in the markets and make food available to Nigerian people.
An initial budget of about 684 million dollars is set aside for Nigeria’s rice import.
