Nigeria could soon reduce its $2 billion annual rice import bill as the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development advances deliberations on the Rice Council Development Bill, which aims to transform the country’s rice industry and boost food self-sufficiency.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero, seeks to establish the Nigerian Rice Development Council, which would coordinate research, regulate production standards, support farmers and promote innovations across the rice value chain.
Stakeholders say the Council could turn Nigeria into Africa’s rice powerhouse, creating millions of jobs and strengthening national food security.
Speaking at the public hearing on the bill and two others, the Cassava Inclusion and Flour Production Bill and the National Food Reserve Agency Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Mohammed Monguno, said the initiatives align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agricultural and economic transformation.
“The Nigerian Rice Development Council Bill represents our economic powerhouse, set to create millions of jobs, reduce foreign exchange expenditure on imports and make Nigeria the rice powerhouse of Africa.
“By passing this bill, we will drive research, innovation and value chain development, ensuring our children inherit a prosperous future,” Akpabio said.
Akpabio emphasized that the three farm bills under consideration have the potential to reshape Nigeria’s food system.
He said the cassava inclusion bill would create employment opportunities and stimulate agro-industrial growth, while the food reserve agency bill would serve as a critical buffer against food shortages caused by climate change, insecurity and global economic disruptions.
Senate Committee Chairman Senator Salihu Mustapha described rice as the staple food that graces almost every Nigerian table but lamented that the sector remains beset by inefficiencies despite the country’s capacity to produce over seven million metric tonnes annually.
“This bill heralds the birth of a council dedicated to orchestrating research, extension services and innovations across the value chain, from flood-resistant seeds to modern milling technologies,” Mustapha said.
“It promises to reduce our dependence on $2 billion in imports, ignite agribusiness hubs across the North and South, and lift our farmers from subsistence to commercial stardom,” he said.
Mustapha added that the Rice Council would foster inclusivity by ensuring the active participation of women and youth in agribusiness. “In essence,” he said, “it is a plan to turn rice fields into engines of prosperity and position Nigeria as Africa’s rice powerhouse.”
The proposal received strong backing from industry stakeholders, including the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN), whose national president, Peter Dama, called the bill a “timely intervention” that could unlock Nigeria’s untapped potential in rice production.
Dama, in a detailed presentation, said establishing the Rice Council would help address systemic challenges across the sector, from inadequate irrigation and farmland insecurity to price instability and lack of mechanization.
It recommended a holistic review of the production system supported by large-scale government and private sector investments in irrigation infrastructure, input subsidies, mechanization and market regulation to prevent exploitation during shortages.
“There should be deliberate promotion of innovations in climate-smart agricultural production, including research into high-yield resilient seeds and renewable energy to power irrigation,” Dama added.
He stressed that the global importance of rice, as a staple food and economic commodity, makes it imperative for Nigeria to prioritize the sector.
“Rice is not just a food on the table; it is a political and economic staple. It plays a palliative role for communities in need, contributes to the national GDP and provides livelihoods to millions of people,” he said.
Dama outlined the many advantages that would flow from the passage of the bill, including greater food security, economic growth, support for farmers, improved quality standards, reduced dependence on imports and greater competitiveness in local and international markets.
“A Rice Council will create coordination and collaboration in the absence of a properly structured meeting point for actors in the rice value chain in Nigeria,” he said.
“It will encourage private sector participation, facilitate training of farmers and millers and improve fortification programs to address micronutrient deficiencies,” he noted.
RIMAN also proposed several amendments to strengthen the bill. A key recommendation is the inclusion of financial institutions such as NIRSAL, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Bank of Industry (BOI), National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) and National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) in the board of directors of the Rice Council.
“Since the Central Bank of Nigeria has abandoned financing agricultural development, it should be removed from the board, and these specialized financial institutions should be included to ensure sustainable financing,” Dama said.
The association further recommended the creation of six geopolitical zonal offices for the Rice Council to improve regional representation, program implementation and stakeholder participation.
“The decentralized offices will facilitate the council’s ability to implement programmes, monitor progress and respond to regional issues promptly. They will also foster collaboration, improve data collection and ensure policies are tailored to the unique needs of each area,” Dama said.
RIMAN proposed the establishment of seven technical committees within the Council, including units of Industrial Development, Research and Development, Quality Control, Marketing and Trade, Rice Fortification, Donor Alignment and Finance, and Women, Youth and Gender Equity. These, the group said, will ensure inclusivity and operational efficiency.
Dama also aligned the bill with the National Rice Development Strategy II (NRDS II 2020-2030), which provides a roadmap to improve the rice sector.
He said converting the existing Rice Office in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security into a full-fledged council would “ensure stronger coordination and performance.”
The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) also expressed its strong support for the Rice Council bill, highlighting that it will create millions of job opportunities for women and youth.
Hajia Maryam Lawal, speaking on behalf of the organisation, urged the Senate to pass the Rice Council Bill to grow the rice value chain and improve food security.
Hajia Lawal noted that WOFAN had strongly supported the bill since 2020, when stakeholders along the rice value chain first proposed it.
“WOFAN worked with CARF, RIMAN, RIPAIN and other stakeholders on the Rice Council bill from 2020 to 2023 when the bill was passed by the 9th Senate.
“However, the president’s approval was delayed until the bill expired and had to be resubmitted in 2024. Therefore, we are confident that the 10th Senate will pass it again and this time it will become law accordingly,” he said.
Stakeholders agreed that the proposed law would be an important step towards achieving President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly his emphasis on agricultural transformation, food security and economic diversification.
In his closing remarks, Senator Mustapha noted that the audience called for collective action and said that the success of the bill depends on the collaboration of all stakeholders, the government, the private sector and local farmers alike.
If passed, the Rice Council Development Bill could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s agricultural history, transforming rice from a heavily imported commodity to a national symbol of resilience, productivity and prosperity.
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