President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has called on African nations to urgently prioritise food security and self-sufficiency, describing agriculture as the cornerstone of the continent’s sustainable development.
Speaking in Lagos during a courtesy visit by the AfricaRice Centre, a pan-African centre of excellence for rice research, Dangote said Africa’s vast arable land and youthful population provide it with the capacity not only to feed itself but also to become a global agricultural powerhouse.
“With the right policies, adequate investment, and adoption of modern technology, farmers can significantly increase yields and returns. Strengthening agriculture will address socio-economic challenges, provide jobs, and drive industrial growth,” Dangote said in a statement by the Dangote Group.
He noted that Dangote Rice Limited recently signed a ₦1.8 trillion purchase and sale agreement with Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited, owned by the Niger State Government, to guarantee steady supply of paddy rice. The deal, he said, aligns with Nigeria’s food security agenda and supports the company’s investment in rice mills, plantations, and out-grower schemes.
Director General of AfricaRice, Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, commended the partnership as transformative, noting Niger State’s target of producing five million tonnes of rice within five years could significantly cut Africa’s annual rice imports of 15 million tonnes. “If Niger State achieves this target, it will have a huge impact on rice self-sufficiency and food security in Africa,” Manneh said.
Executive Chairman of Niger Foods, Sammy Adigun, disclosed that AfricaRice will support the state to boost production from 1.5 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes annually through climate-smart technologies, mechanisation, and the integration of large-scale and smallholder farms.
Manneh stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in transforming food systems, combining government leadership with private sector investment and scientific innovation. “This partnership can serve as a blueprint for other states and countries across the continent,” he added.
