…As Nanono says Nigeria to export rice in 2 years***

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on stakeholders of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) to address vital issues during negotiations to ensure that the overall goal is achieved by the continent.

MAN President, Mr. Mansur Ahmed made the call on Thursday at the opening ceremony of a two-day African Continental Free Trade Area National Forum, in Lagos.

The event is themed, “Effective Implementation for Industrialization and Inclusive Economic Development in Nigeria.’

Ahmed said the key issues included technical and political challenges that must be resolved.

According to him, it is important that Nigeria benefits and ensures she meets the targeted seven per cent economic growth rate expected to take about 100 million people out of poverty.

“President Buhari is committed to lifting 100 million people out of poverty in the next 10 years; how can we ensure that the AFCFTA leads us towards that journey?”

He said the critical dimensions that must be addressed during conversations concerning the AFCFTA should include policies and regulations, rules and conduct of the players.

“The way we merge the processes, the agreements,  regulations,  institutions and how these work together to ensure that the game is being played in accordance to the rules and expectations.

“The issues need to be defined in a way that we see the complexities; technical and political, to ensure clarity.

“All these must be formulated in a way that all stakeholders understand their roles and obligations and therefore play according to the rules,’’ the MAN president said.

Also read:  NACCIMA, other African stakeholders seek better information on AfCFTA

Ahmed said that all negotiators were not of the same capacity and inclination, which would require harmonization on a regional level to resolve issues such as market offer and collaboration.

He urged stakeholders to view the negotiations with a sense of collaboration and not allow any player deemed as too powerful to dominate.

“We must look at the interest of the group as a whole and the interest of the region, and what provides the best long term and sustainable interest of the region.

“There must be a strong commitment by our governments, various institutions and private sector groups to look beyond the norms and look at the goal for the region and continent,’’ he said.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, says with the phenomenal increase in rice production and processing in the country, Nigeria will be exporting the commodity in the next two years.

The minister stated this on Thursday in Kura, Kano state during an assessment tour of the impact of the border drill on the entire rice production value chain.

Nanono, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed led stakeholders and a team of journalists on inspection of cluster of cottage rice mills in Kura.

The team also visited four integrated rice mills in the state which are Al-Hamsad Rice, Kura Brothers Rice Mill, Tiamin Rice Ltd and Umza Internatio nal Farms.

“The way and manner we are going in the production of rice, in the next two years, we will start exporting rice outside the country.

“For those that are worried about the partial close of our borders, we are not doing this to hurt the people but to protect the future of the country, provide jobs and food sufficiency.

“Government will continue to give support to rice farmers to achieve this goal,” he said.

The minister said that Kura is an agrarian settlement known for irrigation farming in rice, tomato, maize and others items, mostly consume in the Southern part of the country.

He said farmers in Kura had, however, concentrated on rice production following the border drill and the ban in rice importation.

Speaking in the same vein, Mohammed assured that the federal government would continue to support the stakeholder in the rice production value chain.

He however appealed to rice growers and millers not to see the loans given to them as their own “share of the national cake”.

“They must understand that when loans are not paid back, it will be difficult for them and others to get more loans,” he said.

Alhaji Ali Idris, Chairman Kura Rice Processing and Marketing Association called on the government to sustain the border closure, stressing that Nigeria has the capacity to feed itself and the neighbouring countries.

Idris, who spoke in Hausa language, said since the closure of the borders and the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to achieving self-sufficiency on food production, his people were fully back in business.

He disclosed that over 10,000 youths in Kura Local Government were gainfully employed in the rice production value chain and they produce about 5000 tonnes of rice every day.

He commended federal government for supporting them with modern machine and urged provision of polishers, de-stoners to further enhance their production.

Another miller, Adamu Habu called on government to sustain the border closure because of its impact on the economy.

He said more people were being employed in the rice production value chain and supporting the economy.

The President of Integrated Rice Millers Association in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Umza, said the border closure had impacted positively on rice industry nationwide and in particular, Kano state.

He said prior to the closure, the industry had been battling with foreign rice market forces which threatened its coexistence.

Umza said that the border closure had helped to transform rice value chain in Kano state and government should sustain it.

“Kano state, by virtue of its agrarian origin has provided a conducive atmosphere where rice milling activities thrives.

“The state has the largest concentration of integrated rice processing mills as well as clusters of cottage rice mills scattered across nearly all the local government in the state.

“Of the 35 registered integrated rice mills in Nigeria, about 12 are domicile in Kano and more are coming up, which makes Kano undoubtedly the capital of rice processing in Nigeria.

“An estimated 5000 metric tones of finished rice is turned out daily by the combined integrated mills and cottage mills in Kano.

“This is shared in the ratio of about 60 per cent from the cottage mills and 40 per cent from the integrated mills.

“Combined, the mills employ about 10,000 people either directly or indirectly,” he said.

Umza urged the federal government to sustain the good work of securing the borders and hence the economy.

He said, if the policy is sustained, the industry would continue to grow and provide food and employment to the rapidly growing and urban population.