*Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture, insists that Nigeria has gone far in meeting consumers’ demand for rice production, noting the West African country鈥檚 rice production is sufficient, but the taste buds of some Nigerians still crave imported rice brands

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Federal Government has restated that Nigeria is not at the risk of food scarcity.

Aliyu Abdullahi, Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture, who said this Wednesday, February 19, 2025, while featuring on a Channels TV programme, monitored in Lagos, affirmed the country has been meeting the rice production demand.

Abdullahi asserted that Nigeria has gone far in meeting its demand for rice production. adding that the country鈥檚 rice production is sufficient, but the taste buds of Nigerians still crave imported rice brands.

The Minister averred: “We have gone really far in meeting demand for rice production in this country.

“The local rice we produce is sufficient, what has happened is our taste buds have a preference for imported ones.”

Abdullahi also assured Nigerian consumers that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to reverse food inflation, which has been on the high side recently, and stabilise it to a point where every Nigerian can eat whatever kind of food they want.

Nigeria isn’t at risk of food scarcity, but has only macro-economic issues

Arguing that contrary to fears expressed in certain quarters, Nigeria is not close to being at risk of food scarcity.

Abdullahi said President understands the importance of food security in the economy.

He the realisation of the fact has prompted the Nigerian leader to declare a state of emergency just two months after he assumed office.

The Minister noted: “Let me react to the headline I saw you talking about, risk of food scarcity.

“Nigeria is not at risk of food scarcity; it has not been and will never be by the grace of God.”

He further clarified: “What I want to say here is that when you say scarcity, it means that it is not even available.

“Nigeria has not suffered from that but what has happened is that there are dynamics, the economics behind food goes beyond just the immediate sector, there are macro-economic issues.鈥�

In regard to the food silos managed by the Federal Government, several states have adopted the buffer stock strategy, and have also stocked food as their buffer, which further improves food security in the country.

Against the narrative that Nigeria is not food-sufficient, the Minister again, insisted that as long as one can go to market, and find all types of food items, there should be no need for alarm in this regard.

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