The Nigerian Senate has begun moves to reduce the country’s $2 billion annual rice import bill by proposing the establishment of a National Rice Council, designed to stimulate local production and promote food self-sufficiency.
The Rice Development Council of Nigeria Bill, sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), seeks to coordinate rice research, regulate production standards, provide support to farmers, and drive innovation across the rice value chain.
At a public hearing on the bill—held alongside deliberations on the Cassava Inclusion and Flour Production Bill and the National Food Reserve Agency Bill—Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno, said the measures align with President Bola 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.
The proposed council is expected to strengthen coordination among stakeholders in the rice sector, encourage private sector participation, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global markets.
