Some members of rice farmers’ associations in Nigeria have attributed the continuous rise in rice prices to the actions of unscrupulous individuals operating within the rice value chain, including certain farmers, middlemen, and retailers.
In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, these association leaders expressed concern over what they described as manipulation and profiteering within the industry.
Mr. Sakin Agbayewa, Vice-Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), explained that despite the Federal Government’s efforts to stabilise rice prices, the situation continues to worsen due to deliberate human interference.
He pointed to the government’s temporary waiver granted to companies to import rice as a missed opportunity, noting that local farmers were not fully mobilised to meet demand, which created a gap exploited by bad actors.
Agbayewa added that although some farmers received significant support including a 75% subsidy on production costs and free fertilisers the benefits were short-lived because many beneficiaries did not put the resources to effective use.
According to him, cartels have played a major role in undermining these interventions by hoarding supplies and creating artificial scarcity, especially after the expiration of the import waiver.
He also alleged that some farmers are repackaging locally grown rice in foreign-branded bags to take advantage of Nigerians’ preference for imported products, thereby inflating prices.
“Dishonesty and profiteering are fueling the price surge. It’s not about lack of supply, but rather manipulation by bad actors in the chain,” Agbayewa said.
Similarly, Mr. Raphael Hunsa, Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), stressed the importance of direct government engagement with genuine rice farmers.
He warned that without targeted support, rice prices will continue to soar. Hunsa urged authorities to consult grassroots farmers to understand their challenges and design appropriate policies.
“We know our problems. Let them ask us, and we will tell them. Then it’s up to the government to take the right steps,” he said.
Hunsa also cautioned farmers against selling government-supplied inputs, urging them to use the materials to ensure sustainable production.
“The inputs are for continuity. Government interventions should not end up in the open market,” he advised.
Traders, too, have linked the price hike to the expiration of the import waiver. At the Oja Oba Market in Agege, a dealer, Mr. Mustafa Aliu, reported that a 50kg bag of local rice now sells for between ₦70,000 and ₦80,000.
“We are only selling based on what we paid. I sell only local rice—it’s clean and healthy,” he said.
In Iddo, another trader, Mr. Temitayo Hakeem, observed that demand for foreign rice remains strong, which keeps prices high.
“Some imported brands still sell for as high as N145,000 to N150,000, depending on consumer preferences,” he noted.
According to NAN, a 50kg bag of local rice currently sells for N65,000 to N80,000, depending on the variety up significantly from N45,000 to N55,000 just two months ago.
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