Though the Federal Government had announced that importation of rice into Nigeria dropped by 88.4 per cent in one year; investigations showed that it was not due to enough local production, but steady smuggling along the land borders.
Federal Government stated that rice importation dropped from 500,000 metric tonnes imported in 2015 to 58,000MT in 2016.
Another reason for the drop is due to forex crisis which made imports technically cheap via smuggling.
However, the intelligence units of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), operating at the nation’s borders have been having serious issues checkmating the rise in rice smuggling.
According to the customs Comptroller general, “There has been rising seizures’ in rice along land borders around Lagos and Ogun States, but the criminals are not relenting and our officers will continue to deal with them because they are the worst enemies of the economy”.
According to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who made the revelation to delegates at the Nigeria Agricultural Joint Sector Review in Abuja, “We are making steady progress in local rice production”.
Ogbeh said in his remarks presented by Director, Planning and Policy Coordination in the Ministry, Mr. Auwal Mai-Dabino, that “As part of government’s commitments towards reforming the sector for better results, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority and the three universities of agriculture have been restored back to the ministry”.
“Steps have been taken toward recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture and provision of available sulphate to fertiliser blending plants. These efforts have led to the reduction of rice importation from 500,000MT in 2015 to 58,000MT in 2016, and increased the volume of production through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.”
Ogbeh noted further that it was to assess the progress made in policy implementation in Nigeria’s agricultural sector with respect to the Malabo Declaration under the context of Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, Agricultural Promotion Policy and other existing policies, programmes and projects across the country.
Continuing, Ogbeh averred that “The review period is 2015 to 2016 and all stakeholders are expected to be part of the process. That is why all of you have been invited,” he told the delegates and stakeholders who were drawn from all the states of the federation”.
“This is in line with the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recently identified 10 prioritised projects that would double productivity and improve access to export markets in a sustainable manner.
“The present administration will continue to partner and collaborate with all stakeholders through the joint sector review for a realistic and transparent assessment of the performance and results of the sector.
