Rice Imports Surge Threatens Nigeria’s Farmers, Local Production Faces Collapse
Oluwatobi Adu 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigerian rice farmers warn that rising imports of cheaper foreign rice are crippling local production, threatening years of progress towards food self-sufficiency.
Stakeholders under the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria on Sunday raised the alarm during a meeting in Lagos, citing policy and economic pressures.
AFAN Acting Chairman Sakin Agbayewa says the Federal Government’s renewed import duty waiver fuels a surge in foreign rice inflows.
“The increase in rice importation is crippling local cultivation and forcing many farmers out of business,” he states.
Farmers say the crisis is worsened by rising fertiliser costs linked to global tensions and climate variability, making production increasingly unaffordable.
Lagos Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association Raphael Hunsa says most producers struggle to survive.
“Most local rice farmers cannot even break even. We are not talking about profit because there is no enabling environment,” he says.
Traders also confirm a market shift driven by cheaper imports. A Lagos-based rice dealer, Tolu Ajiboye, says prices have dropped sharply.
“A 50kg bag that sold for over ₦60,000 now goes for about ₦51,000 to ₦55,000 due to the influx,” she explains.
Some local producers reportedly repackage rice in foreign-branded bags to attract buyers.
Farmers are now calling for urgent government intervention, including subsidies, improved access to inputs and protective trade policies.
Analysts warn that failure to act could deepen reliance on imports, exposing Nigeria to global price shocks and food security risks.
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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
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