*The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development says the 鈥榬esumed smuggling of foreign rice, especially through the land borders, is constituting a serious threat鈥� to the achievements being recorded in rice production in the country

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In view of the extant ban on rice importation into the country, the Federal Government has intensified efforts at tackling illegal importation of the agricultural produce through the Nigerian land borders.

绿帽献妻 reports Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, who stated this development noted that the Ministry 聽would continue to plan strategy and collaborate with security agencies to reduce the illegal importation of rice through the Nigerian land borders.

Foreign rice smuggling on motorcycles along Badagry Expressway in Lagos State聽 聽 聽File Photo

Mabel Mbosire, Senior Information Officer in the ministry, in a statement issued Sunday, November 7, 2021, said the Minister didclosed this at a meeting of the Steering Committee of the National Taskforce on the illegal importation of rice through the country鈥檚 land borders.

The Minister declared that the ban on rice importation had brought about a significant increase in local rice production and unlocked economic opportunities for rice investors in the country.

The statement noted: 鈥淭he Ministry is very concerned about the increase in smuggling, and has convened this meeting to discuss critical issues in order to strategise and come up with concrete measures to enable the committee to carry out its duties effectively.鈥�

Dr. Abubakar said that the huge improvement in the rice sub-sector of the economy should be sustained for the country鈥檚 economic growth in regard to the huge contribution of the agricultural sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Some Nigeria Rice brands

According to the Minister, this feat in accordance with the Federal Government鈥檚 diversification policy in Nigeria.

He further said: 鈥淭he resumed smuggling of foreign rice, especially through the land borders, is constituting a serious threat to these achievements.

鈥淭herefore, if the smuggling is left unchecked it will jeopardise all government efforts to enhance the domestic rice industry and make them ineffective.

鈥淭he Federal Government and the private sector have invested a lot of resources in rice production and processing over the years, because of the government鈥檚 commitment to the development of the sub-sector through its various interventions.鈥�

Abubabkar stated: 鈥淭he Ministry has been supporting farmers, especially smallholders and rice processors, with quality seeds of improved varieties, production and processing machinery and equipment.

鈥淎lso, the provision of modern rice mills of various capacities, parboilers, dryers, colour sorters, in order to boost rice production and improve the quality and competitiveness of domestic rice.鈥�

He added: 鈥淭he Nigerian rice industry has recorded significant progress in terms of investments due to an increase in the quality and quantity of the milled rice.

鈥淎nd it has, in turn, increased the competitiveness, consumer preference and patronage of our milled rice.

鈥淭here is no better time than now to maintain the rice production momentum, in order to achieve self-sufficiency for food and nutrition security, job creation, wealth generation and import substitution.鈥�