Nddc rice mill will end rice importation minister
I think there may be a slight misunderstanding. The NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission) Rice Mill is a project aimed at promoting rice production and processing in Nigeria, not necessarily to end rice importation.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, has indeed stated that the NDDC Rice Mill project is part of the government's efforts to reduce rice importation and promote local rice production. The project aims to increase rice production and processing capacity in Nigeria, thereby reducing the country's reliance on imported rice.
However, it's important to note that ending rice importation entirely may not be feasible in the short term, as Nigeria's rice production capacity is still limited. The country's rice production is currently around 2.5 million metric tons per annum, while domestic demand is around 6 million metric tons per annum. This means that there is still a significant gap between supply and demand, which will likely require some level of importation to meet the shortfall.
That being said, the NDDC Rice Mill project, along with other initiatives aimed at promoting rice production and processing in Nigeria, can help to reduce the country's reliance on imported rice over time.