Some leaders of rice farmers’ associations in Nigeria have attributed the persistent rise in rice prices to the manipulative activities of cartels, unscrupulous farmers, and middlemen, despite government interventions aimed at stabilising the market.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the Vice-Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Sakin Agbayewa, and the Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Raphael Hunsa, expressed concern over the continuous price fluctuations.
Agbayewa explained that although the federal government introduced a temporary waiver to allow a limited quantity of rice imports in order to bring down prices, the move failed to deliver sustainable relief. According to him, while the imports initially reduced prices, cartels hoarded the rice to create artificial scarcity once the waiver ended.
“The issue is manipulation,” Agbayewa said. “Some empowered farmers either failed to cultivate or diverted the interventions. Meanwhile, middlemen and retailers are exploiting the shortage for profit. This is why the price of rice keeps rising despite government efforts.”
He further noted that dishonesty within the system, coupled with deliberate hoarding, has undermined the government’s goal of making rice more affordable.
Similarly, Hunsa stressed that the government needs to engage directly with genuine local farmers if it intends to address the problem effectively. He argued that many interventions do not reach the right people, leaving farmers under-supported and unable to sustain production.
“The only way forward is for government to sit down with real rice farmers, listen to their challenges, and design policies that truly support production,” Hunsa said. He also cautioned farmers against selling government-provided inputs, urging them to use such support strictly for cultivation to ensure continuity in the sector.
Meanwhile, traders confirmed that rice prices have sharply increased in recent weeks. A rice dealer at Oja Oba Market in Agege, Mr. Mustafa Aliu, revealed that a 50kg bag of local rice now sells between N70,000 and N80,000, compared to N45,000–N55,000 just two months ago. He attributed the surge to the expiration of the import waiver.
Another trader at Iddo Market, Mr. Temitayo Hakeem, added that the high demand for foreign rice has further pushed up prices, with some premium brands going for as high as N145,000 to N150,000 per 50kg bag.
According to NAN reports, the current market range for a 50kg bag of local rice stands between N65,000 and N80,000, depending on the variety.
