Nigerians consume N1.2 billion worth of locally produced rice nationwide everyday, National President of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Alhaji Aminu Goronyo stated this on Wednesday.
Goronyo noted that since 2015, “no naira has been converted to dollars to import rice into the country”.
This proactive measure by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), he said, has resulted in Nigeria being self-sufficient in rice production, thus making it possible for Nigerians to consume N1.2 billion worth of locally produced rice daily.
Goronyo was reacting to allegations by an individual, who claimed to have supplied agricultural input for rice under the ABP but have not been paid by the CBN.
Acccording to Goronyo, the CBN does not deal directly with RIFAN suppliers or service providers and as a result has no business with the individual.
He stated that after checking the list of 30 RIFAN suppliers and service providers, the aggrieved petitioner was not found on its list.
RIFAN, he noted, did not deal with individuals but corporate entities that get paid after meeting the terms of engagement for the supply of inputs or services.
Reacting to the petition that was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Goronyo told journalists that “all information suggests that the petitioner is unhappy with the ABP of the CBN.
The petitioner, Christopher Kajere, whose name cannot be found on RIFAN’s list of suppliers and service providers, Goronyo said lacks the capacity to operate as a RIFAN supplier because he did not follow the proper channels of engagement expected of RIFAN suppliers and service providers. Moreover, RIFAN he said does not use contractors as the petitioner identified himself.
