Rice farmers in Lagos have welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to distribute rice to Nigerians observing Ramadan and Lent, but say the intervention will only deliver temporary relief unless backed by sustained support for local agriculture.
The farmers, who spoke separately to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, said the initiative could ease hardship for vulnerable households in the short term, but warned that lasting food security would depend on broader reforms, including cheaper farm inputs, access to loans and stronger patronage of local producers.
Tinubu had directed the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to distribute rice across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in support of citizens observing the fasting seasons. Imo State Governor and Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Senator Hope Uzodimma, said in a statement that the initiative was meant to strengthen national unity and demonstrate compassion during a period of deep spiritual significance for both Muslims and Christians.
Reacting to the move, Acting Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State chapter, Sakin Agbayewa, described the rice distribution as a welcome intervention but not a substitute for a long-term response to hunger.
“If the government wants to cushion the cycle of hunger during the Ramadan and the lent period with the distribution of rice, I think it is a welcome development.
“But it is just a welcome development on the short term. What about in the long term?” he said.
Agbayewa said the government must create an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive if it hopes to tackle food insecurity sustainably.
“A lot of farmers have gone bankrupt, so we need bank loans, land, inputs and the wherewithal to plan,” he said.
He added that the high cost of agro-inputs, worsened by global disruptions, continues to weigh heavily on local farmers and called on the government to adopt more innovative and deliberate measures beyond short-term relief.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Raphael Hunsa, urged the government to ensure the rice is sourced from local farmers and that distribution is properly monitored to reach intended beneficiaries.
“We should not be distributing foreign rice to our people if we want to address the food insecurity in the country,” Hunsa said.
He said distributing locally grown rice would not only help struggling Nigerians but also support domestic producers and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
“If the government patronises local rice farmers, the distribution will have a two-way effect; alleviating poverty in the land and empowering local farmers,” he said.
