Dangote, Nigera govt sign agreement to boost rice production
Dangote Rice signed an agreement with Niger State’s food security firm for steady paddy rice supply, aiming to bolster food security. Dangote Cement’s Ibese plant also empowered 240 farmers with inputs and training to enhance yields. Both initiatives target food sufficiency and rural economic growth.
To boost rice production in the country, Dangote Rice Limited, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited, yesterday in Lagos signed a purchase and sale agreement with Niger State Government-owned Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited on a steady supply of Paddy rice.
Dangote Rice and Niger Foods are collaborating to boost the production of rice as a staple menu in Nigerian homes and guarantee food security.
Under the agreement signed at the Lagos Headquarter of the DIL, Niger Foods is to engage in high-scale mechanized and commercial farming, as well as the development and production of agricultural products, including paddy rice, which will be sold to Dangote Rice.
Welcoming the Niger State delegation led by the Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago to his office during the brief agreement signing ceremony, President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote said that the agreement was aimed at promoting sufficiency in food production in Nigeria, “a feat we have achieved both in the cement and oil refining sectors.”
He described Niger Foods as a leading rice farming and processing company, which has engaged in the production of Paddy noting “We share the same altruistic vision with Niger Foods, of establishing and developing efficient and profitable agricultural business, processing, and supply of diverse farm produce towards contributing to national food sufficiency and security. For this aligned vision towards a food-secure Nigeria, we commend the Niger State Governor, His Excellency Umaru Bago and his administration.”
Dangote explained that with the agreement in place, Niger Foods will be supplying high-quality paddy rice to Dangote Rice Limited. This will help to foster sustainable agricultural development and food sufficiency in the country.
The African foremost industrialist stated that Dangote Rice has invested massively in rice mills and plantations across the nation, explaining that the investment is to create employment through the out-grower scheme and promote food self-sufficiency and security.
“We believe that more private sector players should be encouraged to partner the government in developing commercial agriculture. This is vital, considering the private sector currently accounts for roughly 90% of our GDP,” he stated.
Dangote further stated that Niger State has now joined five other states, namely Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano and Nasarawa where Dangote Rice has mills are under construction.
According to him, the Dangote group will be off-taking 1million tons of Paddy rice from local farmers by the end of 2026, which will go a long way in deepening the nations Rice Food Supply Network and provide reassurance and confidence to our local farmers not to abandon rice paddy farming and to be confident that a willing off-taker exists in the market place.
In his own remarks, Governor Bago said his administration is inspired by the Midas touch and the humility of Aliko Dangote and thanked him for accepting the partnership arrangement.
He said that Niger state has massive arable land and water resources, which confer a comparative advantage on the state. He stated that towards harnessing this comparative advantage, his administration has gone looking for investors in rice production to boost agriculture as done in other climes.
The Governor said, “Lagos State is opening a food hub and need off takers, we have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with them. We are transitioning our people from the primitive to civilized mode of farming. We are partnering Turkish investors all in a bid to improve our agricultural yield. We need to feed ourselves, that is why we are excited at this development.”
Managing Director of Dangote Rice, Thabo Mabe who signed on behalf of the Company described the ceremony as very significant in the task to cultivate massive rice farming to boost food production.
“Today is a milestone. This is a very significant development that will delight rice consumers. This event will bring about self-sufficiency and self-dependence in food production”, he added.
Also speaking on the agreement, Executive Chairman, Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Sammy Adigun stated that the agreement was a very important one and a good project at that which will unlock over N18trillion naira in revenue over time.
He explained that the project will entail cultivating thousands of hectares of land and direct support to over 5000 farmers in the value chain.
In another development Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Mr. Dele Alake has lauded the management of Dangote Cement, Ibese for its contributions to the development of its host communities saying its many social investments have succeeded in fostering economic development and social cohesion in the communities.
The Minister who spoke through the Mines and Environment Compliance Officer for the South West in the Ministry, Mr. Mathew Ochimana during the handover of farm inputs to Ibese Host Communities’ Farmers on the occasion of the 2025 Farmers Empowerment Programme said the Cement Company has through its Corporate Social Responsibility such as the empowerment programmes, stimulated local economies, created jobs, support local businesses and enhanced community infrastructure.
Mr. Ochimana urged the farmers to make the best use of the farm inputs to boost food production and warned them to avoid the temptation to sell them as doing so would defeat the essence of giving them the items and would also run counter-productive to efforts at boosting food production within the communities.
Welcoming the farmers earlier, the Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant Director, Ayyagari Subbaraidu, reiterated the company’s commitment to empowering the farmers as a critical segment of the population with farming inputs support in order to boost food production.
Said he; “We provide modern farm inputs to help farmers enhance their productivity, enabling them to consistently cultivate both subsistence and cash crops at commercial scale. These inputs are donated to support better yields and offer a more modern, efficient farming experience.”
Besides the empowerment programme for farmers themed “Planting to Profit: Good Agricultural Practices for Cassava and Maize”, the Plant Director said Dangote Cement is focused on creating positive impacts within its host communities by prioritising health, quality education, empowerment, and the provision of critical infrastructure to drive socio-economic development.
Subbaraidu noted that “with the support of our stakeholders, some of whom are also here, we have achieved remarkable milestones, demonstrating that every limestone mined and every bag of cement manufactured comes with proportionate social value addition and support to the host communities.
“In the course of implementing the current Community Development Agreement signed in 2022, 240 farmers across our host communities have been empowered through training, farm inputs, and tools, contributing to the cultivation of over 600 acres of farmland and significantly boosting the local economy.”
To cap Dangote Cement’s commitment to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the farmers for enhanced food security, and increased revenue across the agricultural value chain, Subbaraidu said that each of the beneficiaries will go home: with 3 bags of 50kg NPK fertilizer; 2 bags Urea fertilizer; 3 litres of Force-Up herbicide; 1 raincoat and 1 pair of rain boots.
“To all our community stakeholders, we say a big thank you for your invaluable collaboration in creating an enabling environment for our business to thrive. Indeed, it takes strong partnerships between the Plant and the communities to achieve socio-economic progress,” the Plant Director said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Yewa South Local Government, Olusola Akinbode, commended Dangote Cement for always rising to the occasion and he expressed satisfaction with the timely intervention and commitment of the company to community development.
He pointed out that the farmers’ empowerment programme is in tandem with the initiative of the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun’s drive to ensure food security in the state. “One of our targets is to ensure food sufficiency in the state; we did our own farmers’ empowerment in June and we distributed 11,000 cash crops, we are promising to up the number to at least 60,000 in 2026.
“Imagine if we have this and Dangote is supporting us with fertiliser, and other farm tools, very soon, Yewa will become a food basket to others.”
In his remark, the Chairman of Community Joint Consultative Committee (CJCC) Dayo Ogunyinka, expessed satisfaction that the programme in its fourth edition has been very impactful describing it as a perfect intervention towards food security and economic growth. He thanked the Dangote Cement for reaching out to the grassroot whom he described as the centre of community development.
One of the farmer beneficiaries, Iyabo Akintan from Ijako Orile host Community appreciated the company for always coming through for local farmers. She stated that “This will bring upliftment and a better farming experience with gains to the society.”
Another beneficiary, Olaleye Adekunle, described the gesture as “soothing and moral boosting” for farmers. “With the provision of fertilisers and other farm tools, working during rain and shine is now a possibility and we are really grateful that Dangote Cement, Ibese, has our interest at heart.”
The beneficiaries were later taken through a session to educate them on how to make the best use of the inputs for maximum farm yields.
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Source : Daily Champion
