With Christmas celebration around the corner, the Lagos State Government on Thursday said plans are already underway to sell rice to residents at N13,000 per 50kg as from December 15.

This will come as relief to millions of Lagosians who like their counterparts in most parts of the country have had to cough out over N20,000 for a bag of rice, mostly imported.

Speaking on behalf of the State Governor Akinwumi Ambode, the Special Adviser on Food Security, Sanni Okanlawan, during the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), National Agriculture Stakeholders Summit, said that the sales of the rice would be made at all the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to ensure proper distribution.

He said, “Lake Rice is the acronym of both Lagos and Kebbi States joint product which will be out to the public on December 15 at the rate of N13,000 per 50kg bag, as it is already subsidised by the government.

“To make it more available, the rice will be sold at the 57 LGAs and LCDAs for easy accessibility and to guard against unwanted persons diverting the product.

“The state government has put in place a committee that will ensure that Lagosians have the best Christmas celebration, that is why we are offering the wholesome and well packaged rice.”