Nigeria’s Senate has introduced a bill to establish a National Rice Development Council in a bid to reduce the country’s annual $2 billion rice import bill and boost local production.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero, who represents Kebbi Central, seeks to coordinate research, regulate production standards, support farmers, and promote innovation across the rice value chain.
Speaking at a public hearing on the bill which was considered alongside the Cassava Inclusion and Flour Production Bill and the National Food Reserve Agency Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agricultural and economic reform.
Akpabio, represented by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, said the council would play a central role in transforming Nigeria into a leading rice producer.
“The Rice Development Council of Nigeria Bill represents our economic firepower, poised to create millions of jobs, reduce foreign exchange spending on importation, and make Nigeria Africa’s rice powerhouse,” he said.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest consumers of rice, has struggled to meet local demand despite years of government initiatives to boost production. The proposed council is expected to drive self-sufficiency, improve food security, and reduce the pressure on foreign reserves.
If passed, the bill will mark a significant step toward reforming Nigeria’s agricultural policy framework and advancing food independence across key staple crops.