The Rice Millers Association of Nigeria, RIMAN, has promised to provide useful information to the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS in its efforts to curb the smuggling of rice into the country.

RIMAN’s Chairman, Board of Trustees, Mr Peter Dharma, stated this  in Kano during the inaugural meeting of the association.

He said that Nigerians had, over the years, been losing enormous resources to the smuggling of food items into the country.

Mr Dharma also pledged that the association would support the Federal Government’s programme value chain of local rice cultivation, milling, processing and production.

“Our association will work closely with the regulatory and policy makers to ensure standards in local rice production,” he said.

The chairman also stated that the association would support research into renewable energy source, which he said, the association would recommend to its members in the near future.

Speaking on the occasion, the Area Commander of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Yusuf Abba, hailed RIMAN’s plan, as according to him, it will yield some economic benefits to the country.

Abba, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller Enforcement of the service, Mr Ago Hyacinth, said smugglers should no longer be allowed to sabotage the nation’s economy.

Mallam Muhammed Munir, a director at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the Federal Government’s injection of money into the sector, would facilitate employment opportunities for citizens.

RIMAN members at the inaugural meeting, discussed  various issues affecting rice production in the country and other economic issues.