The Lagos State Government has unveiled fortified rice as part of efforts to improve the nutritional value of rice consumed by Nigerians and tackle micronutrient deficiencies, particularly anaemia among vulnerable groups.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, disclosed this on Thursday at the Lagos Rice Mill, Imota, during a three day training programme for rice millers and regulatory agencies on fortified rice production.
Fashola said the initiative went beyond technical training, describing it as a strategic effort to strengthen the rice value chain, improve food quality and make nutritious rice more accessible to consumers.
He said the Lagos State Rice Company Limited had officially added Eko Fortified Rice to its product line, alongside Eko Rice Farm Fresh and Eko Rice Classic.
According to him, the fortified rice facility at the Imota mill was installed in December 2025 with the support of development partners, including TechnoServe, the World Food Programme, Partners in Food Solutions, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and DSM Firmenich.
Fashola stressed that the success of rice fortification depended on effective collaboration among millers, regulatory agencies, government, development partners, laboratories and other stakeholders across the value chain.
He urged participants to translate the knowledge gained from the training into improved operational practices, strict compliance with regulatory standards and robust quality control to ensure that consumers have access to safe and more nutritious rice.
“Producing fortified rice consistently and to the highest standards is a collective responsibility,” Fashola said, emphasising the need for stakeholders to work together to strengthen the industry.
He noted that Lagos, as one of Nigeria’s leading rice producing states and the country’s major food consumption centre, had an important role to play in driving initiatives that improve food quality and nutrition.
Also speaking, the Project Manager, Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria, Mr. Seun Elere, explained that fortification was aimed at restoring nutrients lost during normal rice processing and introducing essential nutrients to help address the scourge of anaemia in the country.
Elere said the introduction of fortified rice was a deliberate policy initiative aimed at supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to address nutritional and health challenges.
The Deputy Director, Nutrition Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Pharmacist Orume Beatrice, described rice fortification as a public health intervention designed to promote the consumption of nutrient fortified rice.
She said fortified rice had the potential to improve the health of vulnerable groups, particularly children and pregnant women exposed to anaemia.
Similarly, the Head, Food Codes Department, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Mrs. Obianwu Nene, said the agency’s involvement was focused on ensuring quality, consumer confidence and compliance with established codes of practice throughout the production process.
She added that collaboration among all stakeholders, including the technical committee, was essential to maintaining quality standards and guaranteeing the safety of fortified rice products.
Twenty five rice millers from across the country, alongside representatives of regulatory agencies, are participating in the three day training, which is aimed at strengthening capacity and boosting fortified rice production in Nigeria.
