Truly unfortunate with these reversals: “In a surprising and abrupt move, the Nigerian government has withdrawn its recently announced plan to sell subsidized 50-kilogram bags of rice to public servants at the discounted price of N40,000. This decision, which was initially intended as a relief measure amidst ongoing national protests against rising food prices and inflation, has left many Nigerians bewildered, as no official reason was provided for the sudden reversal.”
In the Igbo Nation, there is an explanation – “no man, no matter how wealthy, can prepare enough food for his kinsmen, but if those kinsmen make food for him, he will be unable to consume the whole food”. That proverb is saying: the Nigerian government, no matter how loaded with cash, cannot “cook” for Nigerians, and any effort to try that is pure stupidity. So, there is nothing surprising that the government has disconnected the policy before it began at scale.
Yet, this goes beyond “cooking” because if your village cooks for you, you are done and finished even though the village can consume whatever you bring. The Nigerian government must think over these policies before announcing them, to avoid all these avoidable own goals and mindless reversals.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
No government should allow its citizens to cook for it, and maintaining that equilibrium involves communicating honestly. Yes, do not over-promise what you cannot do!
Nigeria Abruptly Halts Sale of N40,000 Subsidized 50kg Rice to Public Servants
---
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA (Feb 10 - May 3, 2025), and join Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe and our global faculty; click here.