The Federal Government declared on Wednesday that it has plans to end the importation of rice in the next two years. It added that local industries would be assisted to maximize their capacity before the time.
Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari disclosed the plan to newsmen at the State House, Abuja
after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, :-) Emefiele and permanent secretaries of federal ministries at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
Gov Yari said that the Buhari administration has the political will to exploit the availability of arable lands to drive Nigeria to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.
He said ;
“The meeting was on the new policy on agriculture and food sustainability. We discussed how we can boost rice production in Nigeria and start thinking about how we are going to put policy in place on how rice importation will be banned in the country.
“We have the potential. We have the human resources. We have the arable land to grow rice. In the next two years, we will not need to bring rice from outside Nigeria. We are going to ban it.
“It is only in Nigeria, a country of millions of people, that there is no food security. We discussed the policy with the relevant permanent secretaries and CBN governor.
“The policy is going to be in place and we gave our commitment that we are ready to support the government policy in ensuring that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in food production in the next two years.
“Nigeria is currently a major importer of rice. Now, the political will is in place to stop it. We in about nine states are going to be seriously engaged in massive rice production.
“We are hoping that in the next two years, rice importation into Nigeria will be banned. We are committed and the political will is in place."
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