Buhari working on rice affordability for all Nigerians – Kebbi Governor

The Kebbi State Governor and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Rice and Wheat Production, Senator Atiku Bagudu has given assurance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to ensure rice availability and affordability for all Nigerians.

Bagudu gave the assurance in an interview with Journalists after a stakeholders’ meeting with the Rice Distributors Association of Nigeria and the Rice Millers Association Nigeria in Lagos.

According to Bagudu,, from the contributions of all the stakeholders, it is apparent that what Nigerians want was actually not about making subsidy available on rice production but making it affordable and accessible such that Nigerian produced rice can be as competitive as those of the imported ones into the country.

“The mandate given to this task force which is under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is of to ensure Nigeria has self-sufficiency in rice and wheat production. Bagudu said.

The Kebbi State Governor also explained that from his interactions with the stakeholders, it is apparent that many are patriotic and they are interested in selling Nigerian produced rice because it is nutritious and help to provide employment for the teeming Nigerian populace.

On the issue of the smuggled rice complained about by the stakeholders, Bagudu said the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), have responsibilities to discharge and that government will intensify efforts in that regards.

The President, Rice Distribution Association of Nigeria, Esther Akinsanya, appealed to the Presidential Task Force chairman to ensure that Nigerian made rice are available and accessible, saying distributors buy smuggled rice because locally produced rice are still scarce in the market.