Monday, September 15, 2025 - President, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has called for the prioritisation of food security and self-sufficiency across Africa, stressing the continent’s vast agricultural potential.
Speaking at the weekend during a courtesy visit by the
AfricaRice Centre—a pan-African Centre of Excellence for rice research,
development, and capacity building—at his Lagos office, Dangote highlighted
agriculture as a key pillar for sustainable development on the continent.
“Africa is richly endowed with arable land. With the
right policies, adequate investment, and the adoption of modern technology,
farmers can significantly increase their yields and return on investment,” he
said.
He noted that strengthening agriculture could help tackle
many of the continent’s socio-economic challenges, given its role as a major
source of employment and income.
“With effective policy frameworks and technological
advancement, Africa can achieve food security and become self-sufficient.
Investing in agriculture will also unlock growth across various sectors of the
economy,” Dangote added.
Dangote Rice Limited, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries,
recently signed a N1.8 trillion purchase and sale agreement with Niger Foods
Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited, owned by the Niger State
Government.
rice to Dangote Rice in support of Nigeria’s broader food
security agenda.
He said that Dangote Rice has made substantial investments
in rice mills and plantations across Nigeria. Through its out-grower scheme, he
explained, the company aims to create employment opportunities while promoting
food self-sufficiency nationwide.
The Director General of AfricaRice, Dr Baboucarr Manneh,
commended Dangote’s renewed focus on agricultural investments, describing it as
a critical step towards achieving food security on the continent.
He also lauded the recently formalised partnership with
Niger State, noting its potential to transform regional food systems.
“Niger State has set an ambitious target of producing
five million tonnes of rice over the next five years. To put this into
perspective, Africa currently imports around 15 million tonnes of rice
annually. If realised, this target will have a significant impact on rice
self-sufficiency and food security in Africa,” said Dr Manneh.
He emphasised the importance of leveraging public-private
partnerships to strengthen the agricultural ecosystem, combining government
leadership with private sector expertise and investment.
“This partnership can serve as a blueprint for other
states and countries across the continent. With strong support from
agricultural science and research, it can dramatically boost productivity and
reduce Africa’s reliance on food imports,” he added.
Dr Manneh also called for better management of imports to
support local farmers and strengthen domestic economies.
Also speaking during the visit, Executive Chairman, Niger
Foods, Sammy Adigun, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to transforming rice
production. He revealed that AfricaRice is set to support Niger State in
increasing annual rice paddy production from the current 1.5 million tonnes to
10 million tonnes, through the deployment of climate-smart technologies,
mechanisation, innovation, and the integration of both large-scale and
smallholder farms.
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