Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen | Stone Reporters News
The Nigerian Senate has initiated a major legislative push to slash the nation’s $2 billion annual rice import bill through the creation of a National Rice Development Council, aimed at enhancing local production and achieving food self-sufficiency.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), seeks to establish the Rice Development Council of Nigeria — a statutory body that would coordinate research, regulate production standards, support farmers, and promote innovation across the rice value chain.
Speaking during a public hearing on the bill — alongside deliberations on the Cassava Inclusion and Flour Production Bill and the National Food Reserve Agency Bill — Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agricultural and economic transformation.
“The Rice Development Council of Nigeria Bill represents our economic firepower, poised to create millions of jobs, reduce foreign exchange spending on importation, and make Nigeria Africa’s rice powerhouse,” Akpabio said.
Lawmakers and agricultural experts at the hearing emphasized that Nigeria, with its vast arable land and growing population, has the potential to not only meet local rice demand but also become a leading rice exporter in Africa.
The proposed council will be mandated to streamline government interventions, encourage mechanized farming, and ensure quality control across the rice production sector — thereby reducing dependency on imports and strengthening national food security.
Stakeholders also noted that the council’s establishment would help harmonize policies between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and private sector actors engaged in the rice value chain.
If passed and signed into law, the Rice Development Council is expected to serve as a strategic platform for implementing sustainable agricultural policies, boosting farmer productivity, and enhancing Nigeria’s position as a key player in Africa’s agrifood economy.
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