Nigeria’s rice farmers are sounding the alarm as the country’s once-booming rice industry faces a devastating collapse, with local mills shutting down and thousands of workers losing their jobs.
Peter Dama, Chairman of the Competitive African Rice Forum Nigeria, said in a statement on Sunday, May 25, that insecurity, cheap rice imports, and a lack of government support have pushed the industry to the brink.
“Our mills have been shut down. We have retrenched workers. Is this the future for us in this country?” he asked, voicing the frustration of many farmers across the country.
Dama recalled a time when Nigeria’s rice production reached about eight million metric tons—enough to meet national demand and reduce dependence on imports.
“It was after the rise in banditry and kidnapping that farming became challenging, and production suffered,” he explained, blaming insecurity for disrupting agricultural activities.
He also pushed back against claims that Nigeria’s famous rice pyramids, once displayed in Abuja and other states, were staged or symbolic.
“The pyramids were exhibited in Abuja and other states as part of zonal displays. Despite some media claims that these were fake structures and that paddy rice was unavailable, the truth is that paddy was produced, distributed, milled, and payments made,” Dama said.
Addressing critics who accused some rice farmers of misusing government aid, he stood by members of his forum.
“While there are so-called ‘political rice farmers’, our members who received assistance genuinely utilised it for rice production,” he stated.
According to Dama, Nigeria’s rice production used to stand at around 5.3 million metric tons, compared to a national consumption rate of 8.5 million metric tons. But that gap has grown wider as production has fallen sharply in recent years.
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One major reason, he said, is the flood of cheap imported rice that continues to undercut local producers.
“Imported rice is cheaper because importers evade taxes and receive subsidies. They bring rice into Nigeria at prices as low as $10 to $20 per ton,” he revealed.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Dama warned that the worsening crisis could have serious social and political consequences.
“The loss of jobs, income, and opportunities for rural youth may trigger unrest in agricultural regions, increase rural-urban migration, strain cities, and foster disillusionment with public policy, threatening national unity,” the statement warned.
He urged the Federal Government to act swiftly, starting with putting an end to selective import waivers and reaffirming rice as a protected strategic crop.
“End selective import waivers on rice and related food commodities. All trade incentives should be transparent, time-bound, and equitable,” Dama demanded.
He also called for stronger border controls, government-backed buffer stocks to stabilise prices, and increased support for irrigation, affordable farming inputs, mechanisation, and low-interest agricultural loans.
“Support paddy production through irrigation to enable double cropping cycles, supply affordable inputs, mechanise farming, and provide accessible low-interest agricultural financing,” he said.
Dama’s message was clear, without urgent intervention, Nigeria risks losing one of its most promising agricultural sectors, along with the jobs, food security, and rural stability it provides.