Rice farmers in Lagos have commended President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to distribute rice to Nigerians observing the ongoing Ramadan and Lenten seasons, but called for a sustainable, long-term approach to address food insecurity.
The farmers made the appeal during separate interviews with reporters on Monday in Lagos.
President Tinubu had directed the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to distribute rice across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to support citizens during the sacred periods of Ramadan and Lent. Imo State Governor and Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Senator Hope Uzodimma, disclosed this in a statement, describing the initiative as a means to strengthen national unity and demonstrate compassion.
Reacting to the directive, the Acting Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Sakin Agbayewa, welcomed the intervention as a short-term relief measure but stressed the need for lasting solutions.
“If the government wants to cushion the cycle of hunger during Ramadan and Lent with rice distribution, I think it is a welcome development,” he said.
“But it is just a welcome development in the short term. What about the long term? On the long term, there should be an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive and to address the hunger situation in the land.”
Agbayewa noted that while the rice distribution would bring temporary joy, it does not solve the underlying crisis.
“After one month of Ramadan and Easter, what’s next? What will be the impact of this distribution?” he asked.
He urged the Federal Government to create a sustainable plan, including affordable access to bank loans, land, agro-inputs, and other resources for farmers.
“A lot of farmers have gone bankrupt, so we need bank loans, land, inputs and the wherewithal to plan,” he said.
“Presently, there is a high cost of agro-input because of the war going on in the international community, and it is really affecting us. These are the areas we want the government to intervene and come to the aid of local farmers in order to address the hunger situation.”
The Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Raphael Hunsa, also praised the initiative but emphasised the importance of sourcing the rice locally.
“We are glad the Federal Government is distributing bags of rice to Nigerians at the grassroots this Ramadan and Easter period,” he said.
“It is indeed a welcome development that we hope will get to the grassroots. The government should most importantly ensure that the rice gets to the people it is meant for; its distribution should be strictly monitored.”
Hunsa called on the government to patronise local rice farmers in the procurement process.
“All we want from the government is to patronise local rice farmers in the purchase of this rice. We should not be distributing foreign rice to our people if we want to address food insecurity in the country.”
He argued that using locally grown rice would create a dual benefit.
“As an association, we suggest that only locally grown rice should be distributed across the country. If the government patronises local rice farmers, the distribution will have a two-way effect: alleviating poverty in the land and empowering local farmers,” Hunsa said.
The farmers’ reactions reflect broader calls in the agricultural sector for short-term palliatives to be complemented by structural reforms—such as input subsidies, improved access to credit, mechanisation support, and market linkages—to achieve lasting food security in Nigeria.
