Lai Mohammed raises alarm over unhealthy condition of imported rice

ON APRIL 2, 2018

BUSINESS, NEWS BY ADEKUNLE

Lagos

– The Federal Government has raised alarm over the unhealthy status of smuggled imported rice being dumped in the country calling on Nigerians not to consume them.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at a media briefing in Lagos said the government could not guarantee the healthy status of the rice having spent months on the high seas and warehouses. He appealed to Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by consuming only locally-grown and processed rice which he said “is fresher, tastier and healthier’’. “We don’t know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is? It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejected. “The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us. “Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health.

So let’s eat what we can vouch for,’’ he said. The minister noted that rice smuggling was the biggest challenge facing rice production in Nigeria. Quoting the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN), he said that more than two million metric tonnes (MT) of parboiled rice were smuggled into Nigeria in 2017.

Mohammed said that smuggled rice was primarily sourced from Thailand and India and came into Nigeria through the country’s borders with Benin, Niger and Cameroon. “In Benin Republic, the total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. “Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million imports between one million and 1.2m MT of rice annually. “Who are they importing for? Nigerians of course.

In fact, as Nigeria’s rice import falls, Benin’s rice import increases. “Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling,’’ he said. The minister said that smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag Explaining why price of local rice was higher, he said Cameroon and Benin Republics had lowered tariff payable on rice to 0 and five per cent respectively to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling into Nigeria.

He added that Thailand and India where the smuggled rice were sourced also gave a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors. The minister disclosed that the local rice producers had made some representations to the government on how Nigerian rice could compete favourably, in terms of pricing, with the heavily subsidised imported rice. He assured that the government would work on the presentations to formulate policies and take steps that will bring down the price of local rice.


Mohammed noted that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs had been created in the whole value chain in the country. He, therefore underscored the economic importance of consuming locally produced rice, especially in terms of job creation. “Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians. “It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country. “Today, we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones. “In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don’t patronize their products, we are destroying their livelihoods,’’ he said.
He said the government would embark on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitize compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice.

(NAN)

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/lai-mohammed-raises-alarm-unhealthy-condition-imported-rice/

Are you sure you are not laing

Lair

this lai of a man is the biggest lier so far on earth

The Buhari govt has told itself lies about local rice production that it's is begining to believe it's self ..Last time I went looking for local wild rice to buy and couldn't find any till I got directed to some Lebanese earth store with imported wild rice ..let the govt keep fooling it self but the truth is that 99 percent of the rice in our markets are still imported

“We don’t know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is? It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejected. “The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us. “Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health."
Still signs of a failed government.Even Lai Muhammed consume the foreign rice.Lies as usual.

deji17:
Lai Mohammed raises alarm over unhealthy condition of imported rice

ON APRIL 2, 2018

BUSINESS, NEWS BY ADEKUNLE

Lagos

– The Federal Government has raised alarm over the unhealthy status of smuggled imported rice being dumped in the country calling on Nigerians not to consume them.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at a media briefing in Lagos said the government could not guarantee the healthy status of the rice having spent months on the high seas and warehouses. He appealed to Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by consuming only locally-grown and processed rice which he said “is fresher, tastier and healthier’’. “We don’t know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is? It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejected. “The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us. “Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health.

So let’s eat what we can vouch for,’’ he said. The minister noted that rice smuggling was the biggest challenge facing rice production in Nigeria. Quoting the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN), he said that more than two million metric tonnes (MT) of parboiled rice were smuggled into Nigeria in 2017.

Mohammed said that smuggled rice was primarily sourced from Thailand and India and came into Nigeria through the country’s borders with Benin, Niger and Cameroon. “In Benin Republic, the total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. “Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million imports between one million and 1.2m MT of rice annually. “Who are they importing for? Nigerians of course.

In fact, as Nigeria’s rice import falls, Benin’s rice import increases. “Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling,’’ he said. The minister said that smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag Explaining why price of local rice was higher, he said Cameroon and Benin Republics had lowered tariff payable on rice to 0 and five per cent respectively to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling into Nigeria.

He added that Thailand and India where the smuggled rice were sourced also gave a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors. The minister disclosed that the local rice producers had made some representations to the government on how Nigerian rice could compete favourably, in terms of pricing, with the heavily subsidised imported rice. He assured that the government would work on the presentations to formulate policies and take steps that will bring down the price of local rice.


Mohammed noted that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs had been created in the whole value chain in the country. He, therefore underscored the economic importance of consuming locally produced rice, especially in terms of job creation. “Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians. “It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country. “Today, we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones. “In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don’t patronize their products, we are destroying their livelihoods,’’ he said.
He said the government would embark on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitize compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice.

(NAN)

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/lai-mohammed-raises-alarm-unhealthy-condition-imported-rice/

But APC can lie shaaaaa

Is it not the same APC govt that said they have halted rice importation abi na spirit dey carry dis rice enter. I no still understand again ooo

There's a Togolese proverb that says;
"When a woman always yells so much during sex, you won't know the day it is really hurting her"

Lai Mohammed lies so much that no one knows when he is saying the truth.
Everything he says now is taken for granted.

We wey dey eat am complain give you?

APC and lieing be like 5&6, liar Mohammed.

Which one come be unhealthy condition of imported rice

Lai Mohammed I beg na your import

I give up on this government. I will start eating imported rice like never before. Rice that has become favorite food for the poor is what government wants to band.

medexico:
Are you sure you are not laing

He's lying. No bi lie lie Mohammed wey we know?

Bunch of failures. Say no to Buhari

Foolish people everywhere.

Hiss.

Let local rice price be reduce then we would patronized it.

This government of Muhammad and his brother liar Muhammed are wicked,you don't need to tell Nigerians any thing about the rice not until they start seen the availableity and cost difference of the locally rice.we Nigerian are tired of all this post election campaign

APC and lieing be like 5&6, liar Mohammed.

You no get anything to talk. Since we begin eat imported RICE weytin don happen to us.

Na today you want come form good man.

gerrara here.

Shedrack777:
this lai of a man is the biggest lier so far on earth

Thats what u guys said about mmm. At the end of d day the govt was right

engrjacuzzi:
I give up on this government. I will start eating imported rice like never before. Rice that has become favorite food for the poor is what government wants to band.

Na u sabi na. Whom are u doing. U are still the one that will come on social media to beg for funds to treat ur cancer and other diseases

A new film script is on the offing. Just watch out, very soon the government will show us a hospitalized sick or dead person who is a "victim of imported rice" At the end it's the Dangotes that is benefiting or co sponsor of the move.
Watch out for part 4 of the new season

BabatCargo:
Let them give us the one with healthy condition or better still stop importation completely and encourage our local farmers


Enjoy discount on shipping from China/USA to Nigeria

They have done that. Nigeria rice is the best. Better safe than sorry

id4sho:
APC and lieing be like 5&6, liar Mohammed.

Deal with it till 2023 and beyond

nabegibeg:


But APC can lie shaaaaa

Is it not the same APC govt that said they have halted rice importation abi na spirit dey carry dis rice enter. I no still understand again ooo

They banned it but its still u nd ur cohorts that smuggle it thru our porous borders

Federal government can't guarantee the healthy state of the rice, yet we have SON AND NAFDAC. Lier Mohammed SO WE DON'T HAVE LABORATORIES AGAIN. Lier Mohammed, God forgive the people that brought this calamity upon us in Nigeria, for the sake of the innocent ones. Lier Mohammed I pity your generational children to come.