Senate advances bill to establish National Rice Development Council
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish the National Rice Development Council.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Rice Development Council of Nigeria (SB. 541),” was sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central), and was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture for further legislative action by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In his lead debate, Senator Aliero highlighted Nigeria’s comparative advantage in rice production and emphasised the urgent need for a centralized body to coordinate stakeholders, enhance productivity, and reduce the country’s dependence on rice imports.
He noted that the rice sector is currently fragmented, with multiple associations such as the Paddy Rice Dealers Association of Nigeria, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, and Rice Millers of Nigeria operating independently without a unified regulatory or developmental framework.
According to Aliero, the proposed council would serve as a rallying point to integrate efforts across the entire rice value chain, providing guidance on research, development, production, processing, and marketing.
He outlined several benefits of the council, including improved rice yields and quality through coordinated research and training, increased incomes for farmers due to better market access and efficiency, and enhanced food security by ensuring a stable supply of quality rice nationwide.
The council would also work to standardise rice production processes, regulate quality, and prevent market adulteration, while also facilitating the development of local and international markets for Nigerian rice.
Aliero stated that the initiative could save Nigeria an estimated $2.5 billion annually by reducing rice imports, while also generating employment opportunities across farming, milling, processing, and distribution sectors.
He added that the establishment of the council would attract more investment into the sector, foster rural development, reduce urban migration, and make Nigeria a competitive player in the global rice market.
The bill was previously passed by the 9th Senate in 2023 but did not receive presidential assent before the change in administration.
It now awaits further review and recommendations by the Agriculture Committee before proceeding to a third reading.
