*Dangote Rice Limited and Niger Foods, owned by the Niger State Government of Nigeria, collaborate to boost rice production as a staple menu in Nigerian homes, and guarantee food security in the country

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Dangote Rice Limited, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Lagos, signed a purchase and sale agreement with Niger State Government-owned Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited for a steady supply of paddy rice.

The move is said to be part of efforts at boosting rice production in the West African country.

Dangote Rice and Niger Foods are collaborating to boost the production of rice as a staple menu in Nigerian homes and guarantee food security.

Dangote Groups, in a statement, disclosed that under the agreement signed at the Lagos Headquarters of the DIL, Niger Foods is to engage in high scale mechanised and commercial farming, as well as the development and production of agricultural products, including paddy rice which will be sold to Dangote Rice.

Welcoming the Niger State delegation led by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to his office during the brief agreement signing ceremony, Aliko Dangote, President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), said that the agreement was aimed at promoting sufficiency in food production in Nigeria, 鈥渁 feat we have achieved both in the cement and oil refining sectors.鈥�

Dangote described Niger Foods as a leading rice farming and processing company which has engaged in the production of paddy.

He stated: 鈥淲e share the same altruistic vision with Niger Foods, of establishing and developing efficient and profitable agricultural business, processing, and supply of diverse farm produce towards contributing to national food sufficiency and security.

“For this aligned vision towards a food-secure Nigeria, we commend the Niger State Governor His Excellency Umaru Bago and his administration.鈥�

The President of DIL further explained that with the agreement in place, Niger Foods would be supplying high-quality paddy rice to Dangote Rice Limited.

This will help to foster sustainable agricultural development and food sufficiency in the country, stated he.

The Group noted the African foremost industrialist stated that Dangote Rice has invested massively in rice mills and plantations across the nation.

He said that the聽聽 investment is to create employment through the out-grower scheme and promote food self-sufficiency and security.

Dangote averred: 鈥淲e believe that more private sector players should be encouraged to partner the government in developing commercial agriculture.

“This is vital, considering the private sector currently accounts for roughly 90% of our GDP.”

He further stated that Niger State has now joined five other states, namely Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano and Nasarawa where Dangote Rice has mills are under construction.

According to him, the Dangote group will be off-taking 1million tons of Paddy rice from聽 local farmers by聽 the end of 2026,聽 which will go a long way in deepening the nations Rice Food Supply Network and provide reassurance and confidence to our local farmers not to abandon rice paddy farming and to be confident that a willing off-taker exists in the market place.

In his remarks at the meeting in Lagos, Governor Bago said his administration was inspired by the Midas touch and humility of Aliko Dangote.

The governor thanked him for accepting the partnership arrangement.

Bago said that Niger State has massive arable land and water resources which confers comparative advantage on the state.

He stated that towards harnessing this comparative advantage, his administration has gone looking for investors in rice production to boost agriculture as done in other climes.

The Niger Governor said: 鈥淟agos State is opening a food hub and need off takers, we have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with them.

“We are transitioning our people from the primitive to civilised mode of farming. We are partnering Turkish investors all in a bid to improve our agricultural yield.

“We need to feed ourselves, that is why we are excited at this development.鈥�

Speaking on the partnership, Thabo Mabe, Managing Director of Dangote Rice, who signed on behalf of the company, described the ceremony as very significant in the task to cultivate massive rice farming to boost food production.

Mabe said: 鈥淭oday is a milestone. This is a very significant development that will delight rice consumers.

“This event will bring about self-sufficiency and self-dependence in food production.”

Also speaking on the agreement, Executive Chairman, Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Sammy Adigun stated that the agreement was a very important one and a good project at that which will unlock over N18trillion in revenue over time.

He explained that the project would entail cultivating thousands of hectares of land and direct support to over 5,000 farmers in the value chain.

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