(DDM) – The Nigerian Senate has taken a bold legislative step to reduce the country’s annual $2 billion rice import bill by proposing the creation of a National Rice Development Council (NRDC). The initiative aims to boost local rice production, promote food security, and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for economic revival and agricultural sustainability.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the bill, sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), seeks to establish a comprehensive policy and institutional framework to coordinate research, standardize production, and promote innovation across Nigeria’s rice value chain.
Speaking at a public hearing on the bill, alongside two other agriculture-focused legislations, the Cassava Inclusion and Flour Production Bill and the National Food Reserve Agency Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, said the proposed laws reflect a clear commitment to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“The Rice Development Council of Nigeria Bill represents our economic firepower, designed to create millions of jobs, save foreign exchange, and position Nigeria as Africa’s rice powerhouse,” Akpabio declared.
He emphasized that the bill would drive research, innovation, and value chain development, ensuring that future generations inherit a prosperous and self-reliant Nigeria.
According to Salihu Mustapha, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, rice remains the most consumed staple food in Nigeria, yet inefficiencies in the value chain have continued to limit production despite the country’s vast agricultural potential.
“This bill heralds a dedicated council that will coordinate research, extension services, and modern rice technologies, from flood-resistant seeds to mechanized milling systems,” Mustapha explained.
He added that the initiative promises to reduce import dependence, stimulate agro-industrial hubs across Nigeria, and transform local farmers from subsistence operators to commercial producers.
The Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) endorsed the bill, describing it as a timely and strategic intervention to unlock Nigeria’s full potential in rice production.
Peter Dama, National Chairman of RIMAN, identified key challenges such as insecurity, poor irrigation, and limited mechanization, while urging policymakers to adopt climate-smart agriculture and promote renewable energy for irrigation and processing.
“Rice is not just a meal on the table; it is an economic and political staple,” Dama said. “It sustains millions of livelihoods and contributes significantly to Nigeria’s GDP.”
He further recommended that financial institutions such as NIRSAL, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Bank of Industry (BOI), and the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) be included in the council’s governing board, suggesting that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) be replaced, given its withdrawal from direct agricultural funding.
Dama also proposed the establishment of six zonal offices and seven technical committees to oversee key operational areas such as research, quality control, marketing, fortification, and gender equity.
The initiative, he noted, aligns with the National Rice Development Strategy II (2020–2030), which aims to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production by the end of the decade.
Similarly, the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) described the proposed council as a “game-changer” capable of empowering women and youth across the agricultural value chain.
Maryam Lawal, representing WOFAN, urged the National Assembly to ensure the speedy passage of the bill, noting that it was initially passed by the 9th Senate but lapsed due to the delay in presidential assent.
“We are confident that the 10th Senate will pass it again, and this time, it will be signed into law,” Lawal said.
If passed, analysts told DDM, the National Rice Development Council could transform Nigeria into a regional leader in rice production, strengthen rural economies, and significantly reduce the nation’s dependence on rice imports, a major drain on foreign exchange.