Nigeria’s rice production gap widens as consumption hits 8.6m tonnes, output stands at 3.3m tonnes

• NGF, SAIP launch Northwest Rice Diagnostic Report, identify insecurity, poor data, policy inconsistencies as major challenges
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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Nigeria’s annual rice consumption has risen to 8.6 million metric tonnes, against domestic production of just 3.3 million tonnes, leaving a supply gap of about 5.3 million tonnes, the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulateef Shittu, has disclosed.
The NGF chief, who spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the launch of the Northwest Rice Diagnostic Report, warned that the country must address persistent production challenges and policy inco...