Mr. Ado Hassan, Secretary of the RIFAN branch in Kano State, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the gigantic rice pyramids’ presentation in Abuja.

The pyramid, which will be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari, is a cooperation between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and RIFAN as part of the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Program, according to NAN.

Hassan rejected reports that the rice pyramids on exhibit were not made of rice, claiming that the product had been brought in by rice farmers from virtually every state.

“The rice here is from all over the country. RIFAN has always been real; it is not possible to deceive 200 million Nigerians with a project like this.

“For the fact that Nigeria has not imported even a grain of rice in the last four years is enough proof that we are already self-sufficient in the commodity. The cultivation of rice is a reality and it will continue to happen,” he stated.

Hassan stated that Nigeria had become Africa’s largest rice producer as a result of the Federal Government’s support and the CBN’s intervention.

“There was a time when the CBN was spending N1billion to support rice import bills.  Today the apex bank is no longer spending a kobo to support the importation of rice.

“Today, Nigeria has become the highest rice grower in the whole of Africa.  That is a great achievement.

“We have leaders of some of our neighboring countries who are coming here today to see our miracle in rice. They are a sure market for our rice exportation,” he said.
He went on to say that, while insecurity was a disadvantage, it did not deter farmers from growing a variety of crops.

He promised that Nigeria’s massive investment in rice cultivation would reduce the price and make it more affordable to ordinary Nigerians.