By Awwal Umar Kontagora In a major push to enhance food security and promote commercial agriculture, the Niger State Government ...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
In a major push to enhance food security and promote commercial agriculture, the Niger State Government has signed a ₦1.8 trillion guaranteed paddy rice supply and offtake agreement with Dangote Rice Limited.
The agreement, facilitated through Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Ltd., was formalised at the Lagos office of the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
Under the 10-year partnership, Niger Foods will develop 25,000 hectares of commercial rice farms and support an additional 50,000 smallholder farmers to supply high-quality paddy rice to Dangote Rice Limited. The initiative aims to foster sustainable agricultural development and drive food self-sufficiency in Nigeria.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chairman of Niger Foods, Mr. Sammy Adigun, disclosed that the partnership is expected to generate 50,000 direct jobs. He noted that the state would harness water from the Rivers Niger and Kaduna to scale up irrigation and rice cultivation.
“This agreement is not just about farming; it is about building an ecosystem that supports livelihoods, stimulates economic growth, and transforms Niger State into an agricultural hub,” Adigun stated.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, described the agreement as the culmination of strategic discussions aimed at supporting Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He noted that Dangote Rice has invested significantly in rice mills and plantations across six states and is committed to expanding its out-growers scheme to empower farmers and ensure consistent supply.
“Niger State has now joined five other states where we have rice mills under construction. This is a step forward in making Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production,” Dangote said.
He emphasized the need for stronger public-private sector collaborations, highlighting that the private sector currently accounts for 90% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“This partnership will not only address economic challenges but also social and political ones by creating jobs, enhancing livelihoods, and building value chains,” he added.
Dangote commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for prioritising agriculture through his administration’s commitment to large-scale mechanised farming. He said the collaboration reflects confidence in the state's vision and capacity to lead Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
“This offtake agreement gives rice farmers the assurance that their produce will not go to waste. They now have a guaranteed market,” he stated.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, popularly known as the “Farmer Governor,” expressed confidence in the partnership, reiterating his administration’s commitment to leveraging the state’s comparative advantage in water resources and fertile land.
“Niger State is poised to feed Nigeria,” he declared. “We are committed to developing agriculture, empowering our youth, and building a strong, sustainable value chain that benefits all stakeholders.”
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