By Ayomide Otitoju
The Dangote Group, Niger Foods, and Africa Rice have entered into a strategic collaboration aimed at scaling up rice production in Nigeria to meet growing national demand.
Chairman of Niger Foods, Engr. Sammy Adigun, disclosed the initiative in Osogbo on Sunday, stating that Niger Foods alone is targeting an output of over 10 million tons of rice annually. He added that the project is expected to create more than 500,000 jobs across 500,000 hectares of farmland.
“Rice is more than just a crop; it is a lifeline for millions of Nigerians,” Adigun said, stressing that any policy framework must balance the interests of farmers, consumers, and the state. He noted that detailed strategies are being developed to ensure large-scale, sustainable, and healthy rice production.
The partnership brings together high-level delegations from all three stakeholders. The Dangote Group’s team includes Aliko Dangote, Thabo Manneh, and Dan Kunle; Niger Foods is represented by Sammy Adigun, Bashir Tanko, and Pieter Merve; while Africa Rice’s delegation is led by Director General Dr. Baboucarr Manneh alongside other senior officials.
According to Adigun, the collaborative effort is already advancing towards achieving rice self-sufficiency in Nigeria.
