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President and CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has urged African leaders to prioritise food security and agricultural self-sufficiency, citing the continent’s vast arable land and untapped potential.
Speaking during a visit by the AfricaRice Centre to his Lagos office, Dangote emphasised agriculture as a cornerstone for sustainable development, job creation, and economic stability across Africa.
“With the right policies, investment, and technology, Africa can feed itself and reduce dependency on imports,” he said.
He argued that empowering farmers with modern tools and market access would not only improve yields but also unlock economic opportunities across other sectors.
As part of this vision, Dangote Rice Limited recently signed a landmark ₦1.8 trillion supply agreement with Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Ltd., a company owned by the Niger State Government. The deal ensures a steady supply of high-quality paddy rice for Dangote’s rice mills — and supports Nigeria’s broader food security strategy.
Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, Director General of AfricaRice, praised the partnership, calling it a model for regional food systems transformation. He noted Niger State's ambitious goal of producing 5 million tonnes of rice in five years, which could significantly reduce Africa’s dependency on the 15 million tonnes of rice it imports annually.
“This is a game-changer. With public-private collaboration, we can transform African agriculture,” Manneh stated.
Sammy Adigun, Executive Chairman of Niger Foods, added that with support from AfricaRice, the state plans to scale rice paddy production from 1.5 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes annually, using climate-smart technologies, mechanisation, and inclusive farming strategies.
The initiative is expected to boost employment, support smallholder farmers, and drive local innovation in food production.
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