FG moves to ban rice importation

In from Olumide Olaoluwa … .
In efforts to boost local production, the federal government will stop importation of rice in the next two years, Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, has disclosed.
He spoke on Wednesday at the end of a meeting on the new policy on agriculture and food sustainability at the Vice President’s conference room.
The governor also pointed out that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration did not export any locally-produced rice.
He said: “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.

Read also: FG plans review of rice import policy

“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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