A bill sponsored by Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi
central, aims to establish the Rice Development Council of Nigeria to
coordinate research, regulate production standards, support farmers, and
promote innovation across the rice value chain.

Speaking at a public hearing on the bill alongside the
Cassava Inclusion and Flour Production Bill and the National Food Reserve
Agency Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Mohammed
Monguno, senate chief whip, 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.

“By passing this bill, we will drive research, innovation,
and value chain development, ensuring our children inherit a prosperous
future.”

Akpabio added that the three agricultural bills could
reshape Nigeria’s food system.

While the cassava inclusion bill would stimulate
agro-industrial growth and employment, he said, the food reserve agency bill
would provide a safety net against shortages caused by climate change and
global disruptions.

BILL TO DRIVE LOCAL PRODUCTION

Salihu Mustapha, chairman of the senate committee on
agricultural production, services and rural development, described rice as the
staple on nearly every Nigerian table but lamented inefficiencies in the sector
despite the capacity to produce more than seven million metric tonnes annually.

“This bill heralds a dedicated council to orchestrate
research, extension services, and value chain innovations, from flood-resistant
seeds to modern milling technologies,” Mustapha said.

“It promises to slash our $2 billion import dependence,
ignite agro-industrial hubs across the north and south, and elevate our farmers
from subsistence to commercial stardom.”

Mustapha said the council would ensure inclusivity by
engaging women and youth in agribusiness.

“It is a blueprint for turning paddy fields into prosperity
engines and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s rice powerhouse,” he added.

STAKEHOLDERS BACK PROPOSED RICE COUNCIL

The Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) backed the
bill, describing it as a timely intervention that could unlock Nigeria’s full
potential in rice production.

Peter Dama, RIMAN national chairman, highlighted challenges
such as insecurity, poor irrigation, and lack of mechanisation, and called for
deliberate promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices.

“There should be deliberate promotion of climate-smart
agricultural production innovations, including research for high-yield
resilient seeds and renewable energy to power irrigation,” Dama said.

“Rice is not just a meal on the table; it is a political and
economic staple. It plays a role in palliatives for distressed communities,
contributes to national GDP, and provides livelihoods for millions.”

RIMAN proposed amendments to the bill, including the
inclusion of financial institutions such as NIRSAL, the Bank of Agriculture
(BOA), Bank of Industry (BOI), National Agricultural Insurance Corporation
(NAIC), and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) on the council’s
governing board.

Dama said since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) no longer
funds agricultural development directly, it should be replaced with these
specialised institutions.

He also recommended six zonal offices to enhance regional
programme delivery and seven technical committees for areas such as research,
quality control, marketing, rice fortification, and gender equity.

Dama aligned the initiative with the National Rice
Development Strategy II (2020–2030) and urged the conversion of the existing
rice desk in the federal ministry of agriculture and food security into a
full-fledged council for stronger coordination.

The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) also expressed
strong support for the bill, describing it as a game-changer that would create
millions of job opportunities for women and youth across the rice value chain.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, Maryam Lawal urged
the senate to ensure the bill’s swift passage, saying it would enhance food
security and empower communities.

“WOFAN worked with CARF, RIMAN, RIPAIN, and other
stakeholders on the Rice Council Bill from 2020 to 2023 when it was passed by
the 9th senate,” she said.

“However, the president’s assent was delayed until the bill
lapsed, and it had to be re-presented in 2024. We are therefore confident that
the 10th senate will pass it again, and this time, it will be signed into law
accordingly.”