Rice - News Agency Of Nigeria

Lydia Beshel
Aug, Wed, 2025

German Govt. supports climate-smart rice farming in 3 states

Rice

By Felicia Imohimi

The German Government has inaugurated the Carbon Offsetting Rice Emissions (CORE) Project to support 12,000 smallholder farmers in climate-smart rice production across Benue, Nasarawa, and Kano States.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Annett Günther, German Ambassador to Nigeria, represented by Johannes Lehne, Deputy Head of Mission, highlighted the importance of the initiative.

She said the three-year pilot project, running from 2024 to 2027, aimed to lay the groundwork for a future where farmers could benefit directly from climate action.

Günther added that the project was designed to help carbon markets thrive in a way that genuinely supported sustainable development and empowered smallholder farmers.

She said the project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), would be implemented by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) in collaboration with Olam Agri.

Günther explained that CORE would promote climate-smart rice cultivation practices to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while enhancing innovation, sustainable value chains, and long-term growth in Nigeria’s rice sector.

“There is an urgent need for practical steps to reduce emissions and strengthen the resilience of agriculture, given the escalating impacts of climate change,” she said.

Günther reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to climate finance, noting that in 2023, the German Government contributed 9.94 billion euro, leveraging public funds to attract private climate finance through revolving credit lines, structured funds, and public-private partnerships.

She added that BMZ, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Union, had committed 117 million euro to its current agricultural portfolio in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region.

“The funding aims to transform Nigeria’s agri-food system by boosting food security, employment, inclusive growth, and climate resilience.”

Alexis Brakhan, GIZ Implementation Manager for the CORE Project, explained that the initiative would promote alternate wetting and drying, as well as the use of biochar to improve soil health and reduce emissions.

“CORE is building a high-quality carbon initiative that links sustainable farming to carbon markets. It offers a scalable model for transforming agri-food systems,” he said.

Paul Nicholson, Senior Vice President of Rice at Olam Agri, described the project as a demonstration of the company’s commitment to food security and environmental sustainability.

“Carbon credits give farmers a stake in climate action, rewarding their adoption of climate-smart agriculture,” Nicholson said.

Olamide Fagbuji, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change, highlighted the urgency of the initiative, noting that Nigeria loses around 100 million dollars annually to climate-related flooding.

He also pointed out that rice, the country’s staple crop, was one of the most climate-vulnerable.

Fagbuji stated that agriculture accounted for 25 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP but contributed 33 per cent of national GHG emissions, primarily due to methane from rice paddies.

“Without innovation, the twin challenges of food insecurity and rising emissions will only intensify. That’s why the CORE project is vital,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of alternate wetting and drying, improved seed varieties, and low-emission irrigation methods, which could reduce methane emissions, improve yields, conserve water, and empower rural communities.

Fagbuji urged both public and private stakeholders to invest in climate-smart agriculture and scale the CORE model across Nigeria’s rice-producing regions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

NCS denies releasing poisoned rice seized from smugglers in Seme

Lydia Beshel
May, Sun, 2025

Economy/Business

NCS denies releasing poisoned rice seized from smugglers in Seme

Rebuttal

By Raji Rasak

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has dismissed the allegation of releasing poisoned rice seized from smugglers, which had reportedly resulted in multiple deaths in the town.

The spokesman for the command, CSC Isah Sulaiman, denied the allegation in a statement on Sunday in Seme, Lagos.

According to him, the attention of the command has been drawn to the widely circulated unfounded and baseless allegation claiming that they seized and distributed bags of rice without the knowledge of the purported owner.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that fear had gripped the residents of Seme border and Badagry communities on Wednesday following reports that contaminated rice, allegedly released by the NCS had caused multiple deaths, including that of a soldier.

The unverified claims suggested that the rice was cursed by its original owner after being seized and redistributed without his knowledge.

According to local sources, bags of rice confiscated by the NCS were later released into the market without the owner’s knowledge

Sulaiman said the allegation also claimed that the owner allegedly invoked traditional powers leading to the death of individuals, including a soldier at Badagry.

“The Command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading and does not reflect the reality of the matter.

“The command has always adhered to NCS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disposing of seized goods, which is guided by transparency, due process, and strict adherence to extant laws and guidelines.

“It is instructive to say that no incident within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) or among personnel corroborates the false claims of deaths resulting from rice consumption linked to the NCS,” he said.

Sulaiman, however, said some unscrupulous elements were wearing the garment of journalism to disinform members of the public with baseless, fictitious and malicious accusations to score cheap points instead of the social responsibility they were supposed to uphold.

“We urge the public to disregard this unfounded story and refrain from spreading false information that could incite fear or tarnish the image of the security agencies working tirelessly to safeguard the nation.

“The Seme command, under Dr Ben Oramalugo, remains committed to its mandate of revenue generation, suppressing smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade professionally in accordance with extant government fiscal policies and laws,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

FCCPC raids Utako market, seals shops over rebagged, underweight rice

Ismail Abdulaziz
Apr, Tue, 2025

Economy/Business

FCCPC raids Utako market, seals shops over rebagged, underweight rice

By Ginika Okoye

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has raided and sealed some shops at Utako market for selling re-bagged and under-weight bags of rice.

Sealing the shops in Abuja on Tuesday, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka, the Director, Surveillance and Investigations Department of FCCPC, said the raid followed an intelligence gathered by the Commission.

She said the intelligence showed that traders in the market were re-bagging local rice in foreign rice bags and selling them at exorbitant prices as imported rice.

Adeyinka described the move as exploitative, and against consumer economic interests.

She said the products would be confiscated and the Commission would follow the trail to fish out the producers and branders of the rice.

”We are carrying out this operation to confirm and validate the intelligence that local rice, our own rice is being packaged in foreign brands and sold as foreign rice.

”And because the appetite of Nigerians are for foreign brands which are no longer in the market, the market cartels are now going about re-bagging the local rice and selling them as foreign rice.

”That is exploitative and against consumer economic interests.

”As a matter of fact, for Mama Gold, as far as 2015, they stopped all their export.

”This is 2025 and yet, like you heard from the testimony of the trader, he is aware that they don’t sell those sizes anymore.

”So that is why we are here,” she said.

Adeyinka said the traders found culpable would face administrative penalties and fines under the FCCP Act.

”They will follow due process based on the infractions,” she said.

Adeyinka warned consumers of foreign rice to buy from importers or distributors to ensure the quality of the product.

Some of the traders who their shops were sealed feigned ignorance of the re-bagging of the products.

Mr Emmanuel Nneji, one of the traders, said he was not aware that Stallion company had stopped production of the rice in a long while.

According to Nneji, he buys from his suppliers in Kaduna and Kano States.

”If there had been a publication that says that this particular product is no more in the market, I would not have bought it, because I do not want to buy goods and at the end of everything, I will lose it.

”So what am begging is that even if they say I should make sure that I return it back, that tomorrow they are coming, and they don’t want to find it, I will do it,” he said.

Another trader who refused to mention his name, said he usually bought Stallion rebagged rice due to its increasing demand in the market.

”I buy the rice because people ask of it a lot but I still sell the 10kg for N18,000 and not the normal N25,000 to N28,000 which the foreign brand is sold,” he said.

Mr Alex Igwemma, the Secretary, Utako Market Traders Association, frowned at the unannounced visit of the Commission to the market without prior notice to the market officials

Igwemma who said that those in the business ought to have known that the products had not been in existence, appealed to traders in the market to ensure they purchase quality products for sale in the market.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than five wholesale shops filled with bags of rice were sealed by the Commission and the owners invited to FCCPC for further investigations. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Ese E. Eniola Williams

Dangote distributes 40,000 bags of rice to Borno residents

Ismail Abdulaziz
Mar, Fri, 2025

General News

Dangote distributes 40,000 bags of rice to Borno residents

By Abdullahi Mohammed

No fewer than 40,000 bags of rice are to be distributed to residents of Borno through the Food Intervention Programme of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF).

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno made this known in Maiduguri at the flag-off of the distribution exercise of the 10kg bags of rice.

The governor, who was represented by the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Ali Isa, said the gesture would cushion the effect of the hardship in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ADF penultimate week commenced the distribution of one million bags of rice across the 774 local government areas in the country.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to alleviate the suffering of our people, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan,” Zulum said.

He said that the donation was a testament to the foundation’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and promoting social welfare.

“We are deeply thankful to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the entire foundation for their kindness and philanthropy,” he said.

The governor urged the people of Borno to continue to pray for peace, stability and prosperity of the state and country.

Earlier, the representative of ADF, Mr Usman Muhammad, said the gesture was aimed at supporting government’s effort.

According to him, the foundation focuses on improving the living conditions of Nigerians.

Muhammad said the donation was targeted at the poor and the vulnerable in the state.

A beneficiary, Ms Aisha Modu, 50, said as a displaced person, the donation of rice by the ADF would go a long way in alleviating her hardship.

Another beneficiary, Umaru Aliyu, 60, said he would use the rice to feed his six children.

He prayed God to continue to bless the Chairman of the foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.(NAN)

(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Lydia Beshel
Mar, Sun, 2025

Defence/Security

Navy seizes petrol, foreign rice in Lagos

Navy

By Raji Rasak

The Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry of the Nigerian Navy has intercepted 13,800 litres of petrol and 71 bags of foreign rice in multiple operations along Badagry creeks.

The Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, Navy Captain Oyeleye Omotayo, in a statement on Sunday in Badagry, Lagos State, confirmed that the seizures occurred between March 7 and 14.

He said naval operatives acted on intelligence received about suspected smugglers operating in the area, leading to the interception of the items during separate operations.

“In continuation of the fight against smuggling within our Area of Operation in Badagry, a target operation was launched on Friday, March 14, at 2:54 a.m.,” Omotayo said

He added that the operation focused on intercepting smugglers and confiscating products intended for illegal export.

“The smugglers initially evaded our water patrol, but were intercepted by our land patrol unit around 3:30 a.m.

“During the operation, 71 bags of foreign rice were found being smuggled. The items were seized, while the suspects fled upon sighting our patrol at 4:22 a.m.,” he said.

He noted that the seized rice has been taken to the base for further necessary action in accordance with procedures.

He said that on the same day, the intelligence team received a report at 12:15 a.m. about petrol being stockpiled at a beach near Bollington in Badagry creeks.

The intelligence indicated that the products were to be smuggled by wooden boats through Nigeria’s territorial waters into Benin Republic.

“Our team swiftly responded to the intelligence and moved to the location.

“Upon arrival, four vehicles intended for smuggling were found at the shoreline, but the suspects escaped with their keys,” he said

While searching the area, 234 jerry cans of 25 litres each, totalling about 5,850 litres of petrol, were discovered and taken to the base.

He further disclosed that 7,770 litres of petrol were also seized in other operations conducted in Badagry communities.

“On March 7, 6,770 litres of petrol in 30 and 40-litre jerry cans were seized at a filling station, along with 188 empty jerry cans.

“On March 8, 40 jerry cans of 25 litres each, totalling about 1,000 litres of petrol, were seized at Farasime community, based on intelligence from Tongeji Island,” he said

He confirmed that the 7,950 litres of petrol seized from two filling stations and Tongeji Island on March 7 and 8, respectively, were handled lawfully.

“This was to prevent the illegal products from re-entering circulation within our operational area,” he said.

Omotayo affirmed that the Navy is increasing efforts to combat smuggling and criminal activities along the Badagry-Porto Novo creeks.

“In line with the Federal Government’s directive and Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla’s Strategic Directive 2023-06, FOB Badagry has intensified operations, achieving multiple successes,” he said.

He warned all perpetrators, collaborators, and sponsors of illegal activities to desist or face the full weight of the law.

He assured sister agencies, particularly the Nigeria Customs Service, of the Navy’s continued cooperation, as well as support for the host community. (NAN)
Edited by Stanley Nwanosike / Kamal Tayo Oropo