How expired rice penetrates markets – rice millers

The Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) has raised alarm over the smuggling of expired rice into the country and fraudulently selling it to unsuspecting customers as locally produced rice at exorbitant prices.

This was revealed in a statement jointly signed by the association’s Chairman and Secretary, Peter Dama and Saifuddeen Abdulrahman respectively.

“We have noted with grave concern the harmful practice perpetrated by certain unscrupulous individuals and companies within the rice milling industry that import expired foreign rice from abroad and fraudulently re-bag such products in local packages to be sold to unsuspecting customers as locally grown rice at exorbitant prices,” the statement said.

“We believe that this practice, apart from threatening the health and wellbeing of innocent Nigerians, also harms the efforts of real rice millers and processors who work hard to produce healthy and quality rice in the country,” it added.

RIMAN also stated that it has already informed relevant authorities like the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Trade and Investment, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Customs about its existence as the newly founded association aimed at ensuring that only quality and healthy home-grown rice products are allowed to be sold in our markets.

“The association also proposes the establishment of a large out let (like a mall) for locally produced rice brands where members can display a variety of quality and healthy rice products by their companies in line with the policy of the Buhari Administration to promote Made in Nigeria goods,” the statement further said.