Kaduna State has emerged as a pilot state for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) State-Led Rice Transformation Initiative, a development expected to strengthen food security, boost rice production and drive agribusiness investment across the state.
Governor Uba Sani received the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Abdullateef Shittu, and his delegation during a strategic working visit focused on the rice transformation programme and Kaduna’s growing role in Nigeria’s agricultural development agenda.
The meeting centred on food security, agricultural expansion and rural economic development, with both parties discussing ways to improve rice production and close the gap between local consumption and supply in Nigeria.
Speaking during the engagement, Governor Uba Sani stressed the importance of rice production to Nigeria’s economy and food system.
“The major produce that everyone certainly looks out for in Nigeria is rice because there is no problem better than rice in terms of demand in our country. It is important that you look at the gap and the deficit between what we produce and what we consume,” the governor said.
As part of Kaduna’s commitment to the initiative, Uba Sani pledged to establish and personally chair a State Rice Development Council aimed at coordinating policies, improving implementation and promoting rice farming across the state.
According to the NGF, the programme is designed to strengthen governance structures, improve implementation strategies and create credible investment pipelines capable of supporting sustainable agribusiness growth in participating states.
Dr. Abdullateef Shittu commended Kaduna State for what he described as remarkable progress in the agriculture sector, particularly in rice transformation and food security initiatives.
“We are really delighted Kaduna is one of the leading, if not the leading, states in the country as far as ramping up rice production is concerned,” Shittu said.
He also disclosed that development partners and technical teams had carried out diagnostic studies in Kaduna to identify existing opportunities and challenges within the state’s agricultural ecosystem.
The Kaduna State Government said recent investments in agriculture have positioned the state as one of Nigeria’s major producers of key cash crops while supporting large-scale agricultural infrastructure projects.
Following the meeting, Governor Uba Sani stated via his social media platforms that his administration increased agricultural budget allocation from 0.5 per cent, representing N1.48 billion inherited in 2023, to 13 per cent, representing N108.38 billion in the 2026 budget.
According to the governor, the allocation surpasses the 10 per cent benchmark recommended under the Malabo Declaration.
He added that the increased funding has strengthened major projects including the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) and the Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC).
Nigeria Startup News reports that the NGF Rice Transformation Initiative is expected to support improved food production, job creation, rural economic growth and sustainable agricultural development in Kaduna State and across Nigeria.
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