Despite concrete and visible interventions of the Central Bank of Nigeria via the Anchors Borrowers Programme on the rice sub-sector of the Nigerian economy, over 70 per cent of rice in Nigeria markets are foreign or imported.
As part of efforts to reach different markets across the six geopolitical zones of the country, the investigative team spread its dragnet to Singer Market Kano; Utako Market, Abuja; Terminus Market Jos; Mile 3 Market Port-Harcourt; , Main Market, Onitsha; Ogbete Market in Enugu, G-Cappa Market, Lagos and Jimeta Main Market – Yola.
Auwal Mukhtar a merchant in Singer Market Kano said: “There is more market for us in foreign rice because it’s cheaper.”Another rice merchant, Mustafha in Utako Market, Abuja, noted that “I try as much as possible to buy foreign rice because my customers prefer them and they are cheap.”The same goes for Terminus Market Jos, Mile 3 Market Port-Harcourt, Main Market, Onitsha.
“In fact, the federal government recently gave a directive that rice and other relief materials in the warehouses should be distributed to orphanages and Internally Displaced People Camps to address the plights of the victims as well as to free the warehouses. However, late last year, Economic Confidential recalls that the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria debunked the report by the United States Department of Agriculture World Markets and Trade that Nigeria imported three million metric tons of rice in 2018.
Hope minister of agriculture is hearing this fact then where are Nigeria rice has reported been largest producer in Africa.
Where is Elder Audu Ogbe?
Wao! Isn't this funny after all the sweet talk by this administration?
Smuggling merely changed from the Western borders to the Northern borders with the use of motorcycles!
But MBuhari and his clueless party APC claimed Nigeria is now the largest producer of rice in Africa!!
The government keep living in denial and deceit, while a few thoughtless morons keep applauding them for a chicken change . Nigeria is a paradox
Lol... this 'report' is empty. No evidence of serious survey or any kind of research to arrive at this result. Premium Times does such shoddy work sometimes.
I thought they banned Rice Importation? Obodo a gwuru agwu
I thought they said we we're putting rice farmers overseas because we are now almost self sufficient in rice. Who's fooling who.
APC is saying otherwise.
laby11g We haven't increased the quantity of rice production in Nigeria, sine 1999. All the media hype about increased production of the Staple commodity is a smokescreen.
Allah ya saka mana an sa kaya sunyi tsada talaka baya iya mallaka
Its still imported, just not through the south anymore...northern farmers and business men now import the rice through Niger and Cameroon, repackage and sell to the south at thrice the former price
Na lie!
Where is this report coming from...
I will just keep mute on this issue but I'm 101% sure that we don't produce 40% of rice we consume in Nigeria
We are self sufficient in rice production - FG
Shhhhh! We are self sufficient in rice production oooo! Pls don't shake this table.
BBoason The Good local rice are not longer available in the market or sometime more expensive than the foreign. Even the dealership are complaining of non availability in the local rice.
BBoason Over to the Hon Minister of Agriculture for his comments
Smuggled in from Katsina state.... The most lucrative business for youths over there now.
How did they come about their fact. Did they just visit one market and concluded?
Thought they said we are now self sufficient in rice production
How comes
Yeah! They are exported and then re-imported into Nigeria. It is called turnaround Agricultural revolution introduced by the government of Buhari.
And Laurestar cant stop noise and lying.
Just understand/bear in mind that the locally produced one (which we have gained sufficiency and even export to others' thus making some countries lose revenue) is not found in the markets. The farmers sell directly to the consumers. We like it fresh from the farm. 😎
AuduOgbeh how market?
But Government said import has reduced by 95% .
Hmm!!!
All those BUHARIST who have been propagating lies should her their faces in shame. That is if they have any iota of self respect and integrity.
Very true toluogunlesi
It's not like local production and consumption hasn't increased ooo, its just that we're using the rice to feed millions of school children. If you must know, they eat over 6m eggs daily.