The Lagos State Government has commenced a three-day training programme for rice millers and regulatory agencies on fortified rice production, aiming to improve nutrition and position the state's rice industry for a significant share of the global fortified rice market, which is projected to grow to $38.4 billion by 2035.
The training, held in Lagos, is designed to equip stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to produce fortified rice while preparing the state's rice industry to benefit from the growing international demand for nutritious staple foods.
Nigeria's Rice Consumption Drives Fortification Opportunity
The Lagos State Government said Nigeria's high consumption of rice makes the staple an effective vehicle for delivering important nutrients to millions of people. Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service shows that Nigeria's rice consumption is expected to rise to 8.6 million metric tonnes in the 2025/26 marketing year, a 5% increase from the 8.2 million tonnes projected for the previous marketing year.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, said the country's huge rice consumption presents an opportunity to improve nutrition through fortification. "Rice is the singular food product that best reaches everybody, from the youngest to the oldest," Fashola said. He explained that fortifying rice could help provide essential micronutrients, especially to children and young people, because of how widely the staple is consumed.
Lagos Expands Fortified Rice Production Capacity
Fashola noted that rice fortification remains relatively new in Nigeria, with only a few mills currently having the required capacity. "Rice fortification is still in its infancy. There are only about six rice mills that have the capacity for fortification across Nigeria," he said. He stressed the need to increase production capacity while creating greater awareness among consumers about the nutritional benefits of fortified rice.
Lagos has already introduced Eko Fortified Rice as part of its rice product range, alongside Eko Rice Farm Fresh and Eko Rice Classic. The fortified variety contains important micronutrients such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12.
Eko Fortified Rice and Future Collaboration
The state launched its rice fortification plant and Fortified Eko Rice at the Lagos State Rice Mill in Imota, Ikorodu, in November 2025. The government said the facility is one of the few rice mills in Nigeria equipped to fortify rice with essential micronutrients.
Fashola said Lagos would continue collaborating with rice millers, regulatory bodies and development partners to promote fortified rice and improve the state's rice value chain, positioning the state to meet both local nutritional needs and the expanding global market for fortified rice.
