Mr Joe Kwanashie, the Director, Irrigation and Drainage, Ministry of Water Resources, has urged Nigerians to reduce their consumption of rice to once a week.

Kwanashie said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that the advice became imperative due to the amount foreign exchange spent on rice importation.

According to him, Nigeria spends N1 billion on rice importation daily.

‘’ If Nigerians decide not to eat rice every day but once a week, it will drastically reduce the importation of the commodity.

‘’If today we decide that instead of eating rice three times a day, we are only going to eat it once a day or once a week, we wouldn’t need to import all that rice.

“As a child, I know that in my house we didn’t eat rice every day.

“Today, most households in this country eat rice every day.

“Must we eat rice? what’s wrong with eating eba or pounded yam that we produce locally? will you die if you don’t eat rice? Kwanashie asked.

He said that the money spent on the importation of the commodity would not encourage economic growth, noting that Nigeria had so many other food substitutes.

‘’It’s something that requires political will and commitment and not only from the political leaders but also from us; its small sacrifices like this that Nigerians can make to make this country better.

‘’Look at the damage we are doing to our economy; one billion naira every day! do you know how many jobs that would provide in this country?’’ he asked.

The director, however, noted that Nigeria had the capacity to produce rice both for local consumption and also for export, stressing that the human and material resources required to to achieve it were also available.

On what the ministry is doing to combat the effects of flooding that had ravaged most farmlands and homes in the country, the director said:“The solution to flooding problem is multisectoral.”

http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/news/reduce-rice-consumption-director-urges-nigerians/

If China imported just 20% of the rice they consumed, the price of rice in the global market would increase by 300%. This man is an illiterate and a complete m.or on. Rice is one of the most eaten food in the world, in india alone there are about 10 different species of rice sold in the market, I say it again, this man is a m.o.ron, and for the last time, this man is a mo.r.on.



China even has fake rice, made from plastics . This man is a m.o.ron

The Suggestion of reduction of rice consumption isn't out of place, but we all know how money dissapear from our national treasury, all under the guise of one people oriented project or the other.

See market strategy. now that the price of garrium has gone up and he wants us to eat eba. May be this man get cassava farm.

I am not sure this man is serious, what about increasing rice production in the country on the alternative?

Men, most of the old cargo-s holding public office don't fail to dissapoint me. Just when you think they've hit rock bottom, they'l slap you for underestimating them and pickup their shovel and keep digging again.people who I'm supposed to be looking up to are saying trash like this. If nigeria imports N1bn worth of rice, isn't that a good thing in the sense that they know there is a huge demand there and they should make conscious efforts to channel that money into PROFESSIONALLY producing this commodity locally? I'm sure this slow poke of a man ate rice the morning he made this statement and would eat rice again in the evening. I weep for leadership in this hell-hole

This director don't u know dat rice is the commonest food u can buy in MAMA PUT.

Once a week indeed.

dis director is either misquoted or daft, so d contracts fg and states gv to chinese, usa md europeans to build roads, stadiums,mint currency etc is not harmful to d economy, i forsee a day wen pple will rise and all dis clowns beheaded in public

Sharap dude. When nigeria starts producing rice locally which is widely accepted and fit for human consumption then we would start buying made in nigeria rice . He should start with his home first. I understand the angle he is coming from but still let the Federal Government do something about it and stop all this lip service it makes me wanna puke

petaling: Mr Joe Kwanashie, the Director, Irrigation and Drainage, Ministry of Water Resources, has urged Nigerians to reduce their consumption of rice to once a week.

Kwanashie said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that the advice became imperative due to the amount foreign exchange spent on rice importation.

According to him, Nigeria spends N1 billion on rice importation daily.

‘’ If Nigerians decide not to eat rice every day but once a week, it will drastically reduce the importation of the commodity.

‘’If today we decide that instead of eating rice three times a day, we are only going to eat it once a day or once a week, we wouldn’t need to import all that rice.

“As a child, I know that in my house we didn’t eat rice every day.

“Today, most households in this country eat rice every day.

“Must we eat rice? what’s wrong with eating eba or pounded yam that we produce locally? will you die if you don’t eat rice? Kwanashie asked.

He said that the money spent on the importation of the commodity would not encourage economic growth, noting that Nigeria had so many other food substitutes.

‘’It’s something that requires political will and commitment and not only from the political leaders but also from us; its small sacrifices like this that Nigerians can make to make this country better.

‘’Look at the damage we are doing to our economy; one billion naira every day! do you know how many jobs that would provide in this country?’’ he asked.

The director, however, noted that Nigeria had the capacity to produce rice both for local consumption and also for export, stressing that the human and material resources required to to achieve it were also available.

On what the ministry is doing to combat the effects of flooding that had ravaged most farmlands and homes in the country, the director said:“The solution to flooding problem is multisectoral.”

http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/news/reduce-rice-consumption-director-urges-nigerians/

I can't help but scream. We consume a lot in this country and most are imported. Including tooth pick. What a shame.

Because you were deprived of rice as a kid,we must all suffer the same fate.if you have issues with importation of the commodity,empower our own abakaliki or ofada rice farmers.

Madman

But rice is a staple nigerian diet naa. Can't the government look for ways to increase its productivity to meet local needs and surplus for exportation which will generate foreign exchange
This government sef, always looking for easy solution to pressing national issues, like a doctor treating the symptoms and not the disease.*

Instead of encouraging an increase in production, this one is talking decrease in consumption. So, what should people eat o Bread, Beans and you-know-what sef don cost.

His reason for rational consumption of rice is very lame. Why nt influence the govt to invest same amount in enhancing d quality en quantity of local rice production to meet nigeria market demand, export, en increase employment.mtwew! Very lame. I was even afraid he was going to say we re running short of rice production. 1st to comment sha. Anoda idiota in a retardeen government

The best way to reduce the amount of foreign exchange spent on the importation of rice is to produce it locally (international standard)... I'm still trying to understand why Nigeria still imports rice when it can be cultivated in the northern states

Oga kwanashie rice easy to cook. Rice in the pot is a sign of growth in our society, abi you want to take us back to the days of SAP when we had guinea corn in the pot and pretended it was rice?
If you ate that raise your hand up.

REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF GARRI TO ONCE A YEAR.

So we should start eating GARRI everyday

*hiss* mumu talk.

Its okay,most Nigerians can do that,as long as it's not Garri,we will survive.

ochallo: If China imported just 20% of the rice they consumed, the price of rice in the global market would increase by 300%. This man is an illiterate and a complete m.or on. Rice is one of the most eaten food in the world, in india alone there are about 10 different species of rice sold in the market, I say it again, this man is a m.o.ron, and for the last time, this man is a mo.r.on.



China even has fake rice, made from plastics . This man is a m.o.ron

If u want to eat all the rice in the world you can go ahead. You don't have to abuse him. He only voiced out his opinion which I don't ascribe to. Afterall are we going to stop hosting parties with rice? You don't have to abuse everyone who has a counter opinion that's what maturity is all about.

ochallo: If China imported just 20% of the rice they consumed, the price of rice in the global market would increase by 300%. This man is an illiterate and a complete m.or on. Rice is one of the most eaten food in the world, in india alone there are about 10 different species of rice sold in the market, I say it again, this man is a m.o.ron, and for the last time, this man is a mo.r.on.



China even has fake rice, made from plastics . This man is a m.o.ron

Walahi u ve made my day.U kept stressing and repeating d slowpoke,nice analysis anyway.

I can now safely conclude that the 69 percent IQ stuff about Nigeria is right..

I was hoping to grab some useful lessons on the health implications of eating rice everyday only to be assaulted by this man's shallow sense of cause-analysis.
Just as the price of garri is going down due to increased cassava production, Importation of rice will only reduce through increased local production. Also do well to instruct politicians, religious CEOs et al who customize ship loads of rice for their i dont know what.

They should reciprocate by taking only a shot of red wine per week.
Which one cost pass?

The same way they reduced power to once a week,soon they would tell us to reduce bleeping to once a week,then you will know Akwa-ibom girls are not smiling at all

xtrafly: The best way to reduce the amount of foreign exchange spent on the importation of rice is to produce it locally (international standard)... I'm still trying to understand why Nigeria still imports rice when it can be cultivated in the northern states

Same question here bro; why do we import petro when we have four refinaries that can produce them

Revolution will come one ƉăŸ where christians aŋԂ muslims will join hands to fight these greedy id1ots ruling us

Reduce Rice consumption and eat eba, akpu, garri (all made of cassava) then importation of cassava will increase due to insufficient production. Another Director will now come and spew rubbish again.

Garri and Rice are the best food of an average Nigerian. Eating rice 1c a week is like saying we should not eat at all. These leaders only say shitty policies without thorough researches

When I read articles like this,I can't help but wonder where or how these pple think......"Eating rice once in a wk indeed" What happens to the vast arable land that abound in this country? What happens to inproved production to make for self sufficient instead of stealing us dry? Somany ifs, but will stop here.