President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has called on African nations to prioritise food security and self-sufficiency, urging governments to harness the continent’s vast agricultural potential.
Dangote made the call over the weekend while hosting a delegation from the AfricaRice Centre, a pan-African institution dedicated to rice research, development, and capacity building, at his Lagos office.
Highlighting agriculture as a cornerstone for sustainable development, Dangote stressed the need for policies and investments that would transform Africa into a food-secure continent.
“Africa is richly endowed with arable land. With the right policies, adequate investment, and modern technology, farmers can significantly increase their yields and returns.
“Strengthening agriculture will not only tackle hunger but also create jobs, generate income, and unlock economic growth across multiple sectors,” Dangote said.
As part of efforts to bolster food production, Dangote Rice Limited, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries, recently signed a landmark ₦1.8 trillion purchase and sale agreement with Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited, owned by the Niger State Government.
The deal guarantees a steady supply of high-quality paddy rice to Dangote Rice, aligning with Nigeria’s broader food security agenda.
Dangote Rice has invested heavily in rice mills and plantations nationwide.
Through its out-grower scheme, the company plans to create thousands of jobs while promoting local production and reducing the nation’s dependence on imported rice.
Director General of AfricaRice, Dr Baboucarr Manneh, praised Dangote’s commitment to agricultural development, describing it as a pivotal step toward addressing Africa’s food security challenges.
Dr Manneh hailed Niger State’s ambitious target of producing five million tonnes of rice over the next five years, noting that Africa currently imports about 15 million tonnes annually.
“If Niger State achieves its target, it will significantly boost rice self-sufficiency and reduce the continent’s reliance on imports.
“This partnership can serve as a blueprint for other states and countries across Africa, combining government leadership with private sector innovation and investment,” he said.
He emphasised the role of public-private partnerships in strengthening agricultural ecosystems and called for better management of food imports to protect local farmers and domestic economies.
Executive Chairman of Niger Foods, Sammy Adigun, reaffirmed Niger State’s dedication to revolutionising rice production.
According to him, AfricaRice will support the state to scale up annual rice paddy production from 1.5 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes through climate-smart technologies, mechanisation, and innovation.
“By integrating both large-scale and smallholder farms, we aim to build a sustainable model that boosts productivity and creates value across the rice value chain,” Adigun stated.
Dangote concluded by reiterating his vision for Africa to become a global leader in agricultural production, stressing that the right investments today would guarantee food security for future generations.
All rights reserved. The content on this website, including text and other digital materials, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of The News Accelerator Network.
For advertising inquiries, news coverage, or press releases, please get in touch with us at
📧 thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com
📞 0805 101 7159.
Post a Comment