By Chinyere Anyanwu
To curb Nigeria’s growing malnutrition, TechnoServe, through its Millers for Nutrition initiative and in collaboration with the Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) programme, has trained millers on rice fortification.
At a two-day training recently held in Lagos, rice millers were trained on how to fortify the grain with essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 in line with the required accreditations from the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
While the fortification of salt, flour, and edible oil has been practiced for some years in Nigeria, rice fortification is still relatively new.
Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC, emphasised the need for strategic collaboration and partnerships between millers and regulators.
Adeyeye, who was represented by Eva Edwards, Director of the Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate at NAFDAC, stressed the need for fortification to address the country’s rising malnutrition rates, especially among children.
Providing an update on TechnoServe rice fortification programme, Olusola Sowunmi, senior food fortification specialist, highlighted progress made in scaling production, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and expanding participation across the rice value chain.
“We have a National Rice Fortification Central Coordinating Committee that is chaired by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,” he said.
According to him, the initiative, driven by the Federal Government and supported by development partners, aims to use rice as a vehicle for delivering essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, folic acid, and B vitamins to address widespread
malnutrition.
Approved in 2021, the rice fortification programme promotes voluntary fortification and positions it as a public health intervention rather than just a commercial activity, Sowunmi said.
He also disclosed that about seven rice mills are currently producing fortified rice, with more expected to come on board. “Some mills, including WACOT and Mubadala, have secured key regulatory approvals and certifications, demonstrating that compliance is achievable within a short timeframe.”
Sowunmi further noted that while progress has been significant, maintaining momentum
will require aligning public health priorities with market incentives to ensure fortified rice becomes widely produced and consumed in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Abiola Tijani, a control regulatory officer at NAFDAC, reiterated the institution’s statutory mandate to regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution, and
sale of food and other regulated products in Nigeria, noting that rice fortification falls within its broader public health responsibility.
Rice was highlighted as a strategic vehicle for fortification due to its widespread consumption, reaching over 90 per cent of Nigerians, making it an effective channel for delivering essential nutrients at scale.
“The agency is positioning fortified rice as a key intervention in addressing micronutrient
deficiencies, particularly iron and vitamin A deficiencies identified in national assessments,” Tijani said at the convening.
He outlined two key regulatory instruments guiding fortified food production. The first is the Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation, which sets out requirements for clear,
visible, and accurate product information to ensure consumer transparency.
The second is the Food Fortification Regulation, which specifies nutrient
thresholds and conditions that must be met before any product can be labelled as “fortified.”
“Manufacturers must comply with defined nutrient reference values. Products that do not meet these thresholds cannot legally be marketed as fortified,” Tijani said.
On packaging, he emphasised to millers that materials used must preserve the nutritional integrity of fortified rice throughout the supply chain.
Also, he said packaging should protect against environmental factors such as heat, light, and humidity, which can degrade micronutrients.
NAFDAC also outlined detailed labelling requirements, which include the product name, like fortified parboiled rice, ingredient list, nutrient composition, manufacturing and
expiry dates, batch numbers, net weight, and storage instructions.
“Labels must be clear, in English and include traceability features such as barcodes,” he said.
For Nene Obianwu of SON, standards are developed through stakeholder consensus, involving government ministries, regulators, and industry players, and are critical for maintaining order and uniformity across the value chain.
She noted that compliance with these standards is essential for certification and market acceptance. For fortified rice, both the base product (milled rice) and the final fortified
product must meet relevant standards before certification can be granted, reflecting the need for quality control at every stage of production.
“If a product does not meet the required nutrient levels, it must not be labelled as fortified. Also, no recycled material should be used for packaging fortified rice, as it may
contain residual chemicals and contaminants that can migrate into the product and compromise food safety,” Obianwu said.
Comparing how fortified rice packaging is done in other nations, David Okorie of dsm-firmenich, showed millers samples of fortified rice packaging in India, emphasising
the importance of adhering to packaging guidelines.
“Packaging is a tool for marketing. Your packaging can help you stand out in the market, as you are the pioneers of the rice fortification programme in Nigeria. There is a need for your product to stand out in the market,” he said.
The event brought together millers already producing fortified rice with TechnoServe support, as well as those obtaining the required licenses to begin operations.
Millers including Coscharis, Anambra; Kiara, Niger; Ni-Agra, Kebbi; Ibom Agricon, Akwa Ibom; Nadia, Adamawa; Swomen Dama, Plateau; and Gerawa, Kano were in attendance.
Leave a comment