In November 2025, a message circulated in several Lagos and Abuja neighborhood groups claiming that as part of the “Year-End Harvest Relief,” the Federal Government would be sending marked trucks to deliver free bags of rice and maize directly to people’s doorsteps. To “register” for the delivery, residents were asked to provide their home addresses and phone numbers on a Google Form.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has warned that this is a fraudulent scheme. While the government has released grains from the national reserve to be sold at subsidized prices in designated markets, there is no policy for door-to-door distribution. Security agencies have flagged this as a new tactic used by criminal gangs to scout neighborhoods and identify vulnerable homes for future burglaries.
The Ministry emphasized that all official palliative distributions are conducted through recognized community centers, state government offices, or verified religious and traditional institutions. Residents are urged not to share their private home addresses with unverified online links. This scam exploits the genuine efforts of the government to reduce food prices during the 2025 harvest season.
