The Dangote Group has launched a major agricultural initiative in partnership with the Niger State Government to boost rice production and support Nigeria’s food security drive.
Announced during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Niger National Trade Fair in Minna, the partnership was unveiled by Fatima Abdurrahman, Senior Special Adviser to the President of the Dangote Group. She revealed that the company is making a significant investment in a high-capacity rice milling facility located in Wushishi, a project that is already well underway.
Situated on a 30-hectare site, the 32 metric tonnes-per-hour rice mill is part of the Niger Food Initiative, a collaborative agricultural development programme between the state government and private sector stakeholders.
“As part of our commitment to advancing agriculture, we plan to establish one of the largest rice mills here in Niger State,” Abdurrahman said. “The mill represents a major milestone in modern agricultural processing, leveraging the latest in rice milling technology.”
The mill, described as a state-of-the-art facility, is designed for high efficiency, minimal waste, and premium output. Once operational, it will enhance Nigeria’s local rice production capacity while creating new jobs and stimulating the broader agricultural value chain from cultivation to market distribution.
Abdurrahman noted that the project will also include 32 silos, each with a 2,500 metric tonne capacity, for paddy rice storage, and will operate an independent 5.8-megawatt power plant, easing dependence on the national grid.
“This is more than just a mill it’s a full-scale agricultural ecosystem,” she said. “The facility will serve as an off-taker for all rice produced by local out-growers. We’ll also supply them with high-quality inputs like fertilisers and seedlings.”
The initiative is expected to drive rural development, foster agro-industrial innovation, and open new markets for farmers in Niger State and beyond.
Representing Governor Muhammed Bago, the Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Aminu Takuma, praised the Dangote Group for its investment and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for private sector growth.
“Niger State is ready and open for large-scale agricultural investments,” Takuma said. “We welcome this partnership and look forward to transforming our trade fair into an international platform for showcasing such initiatives.”
Also speaking at the event, Bisi Adeniyi, President of the Niger Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, called on more private investors to explore the state’s rich agricultural potential.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, represented by Suleiman Ladan, underscored the importance of commercial agriculture to President Bola Tinubu’s economic development agenda.
“Public-private collaborations like this are vital to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s agricultural sector,” he said.
With its combination of technology, scale, and local engagement, the Dangote rice mill project stands as a flagship example of how industrial investment can power rural transformation and national food security.
