Why it shouldn't matter whose axe is gored, one can't help but feel pity for Nigerians who have made rice the cornerstone of their existence. Yes, it goes with a lot of things and you can certainly churn out a lot of fine dishes with it including 'jolof' and a host of others, but for crying out loud, when has the availability or none of rice become the main barometer to measure our economy (personally and nationally)? The borders are closed and if it wasn't for being current or at least having other options as meals, you'd think all we had to eat in this country was some seedy, turned fluffy-white or brown stuff! Well, I'm resigned, like the Nigerian government to try other things. You can get your carbs from other sources (cheaper) or be like our parents of old and take some good old starch (fufu, Gari, etc.) with some awesome-tasting vegetable soup! If you're worried about a party or wedding missing rice, perhaps you've never come across an occasion where guests had to roll up their 'agbada' and dig in to plethora of African cuisine at their disposal. Well, as I'm typing this, I just had beans and spag for lunch with some fish, needless to say it went down pretty well! For every cup of rice you miss from Thailand, Taiwan or China via Benin Republic and Niger, if you won't hunker down to buy local, consider other healthy alternatives rather complain always. Ciao!

Eba, Akpu, Fufu early in the morning. Ahhh. On a serious note, we should explore local alternatives to parboiled rice. Possibly if the demand is high, local farmers will farm it more intensively.

tunjilomo:
Eba, Akpu, Fufu early in the morning. Ahhh. On a serious note, we should explore local alternatives to parboiled rice. Possibly if the demand is high, local farmers will farm it more intensively.

not necessarily those for breakfast. But you see my point.

Nigerians who have made rice the cornerstone of their existence

I doubt this can be rectified.

Rice is important to Nigerians.

Sunday rice is one of my earliest memories in the country.

You can get your carbs from other sources (cheaper) or be like our parents of old and take some good old starch (fufu, Gari, etc.) with some awesome-tasting vegetable soup!

True.