Dangote Group has described as malicious a broadcast alleging a partnership between Dangote and the Federal Government for importing and flooding the market with poisonous GMO rice.
DANGOTE group has described as ‘malicious and absolute false’ the broadcast alleging a partnership between Dangote and federal government to import and flood the Nigerian market with poisonous GMO rice.
Dangote said it “is not involved in the production or sales of GMOs and its research in Nigeria or anywhere.”
Further the company said: “What people should know, however, is the ground breaking progress Dangote Rice has made since 2014 when it stopped importation of rice and began local cultivation.”
According to the facts sheet provided by the company, in 2014, Dangote signed $1billion agreement with the FG or integrated rice production in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa and Kwara; in 2016, the company started a multibillion naira Rice Outgrower Scheme oof more than 8,000 hectares in Hadejia, Jigawa State; also in 2016, it created more than 10,000 jobs, direct and indirect, to farmers who are an integral part of the Rice Outgrower Scheme and FARO 44 rice seeds distributed to farmers during the Outgrower Scheme was sourced from Africa Rice and certified by the National Agricultural Seeds Council.
The company said that suspected intent of those behind such malicious runours was to bring the hard earned reputation of the business to disrepute.
“The intent of this broadcast is to bring into disrepute the hard earned reputation of Dangote and actualization of its vision of making Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production. Moreover, with the ever watchful eagle eyes of organizations such as NAFDAC, SON, CPC with mandate to ensure food safety, how can a big organisation like Dangote import and flood the market with poisonous rice.”
