Agricultural expert and food security advocate, Paschal Nnaemeka, has voiced his concerns over the Nigerian government’s growing tendency to use rice as the primary response to national crises. In a scathing commentary, Nnaemeka criticized what he called a “one-size-fits-all approach,” where rice is distributed to citizens during every emergency, whether it’s floods, economic hardship, or even inflation.

According to Nnaemeka, the government’s overdependence on rice handouts, instead of providing long-term solutions, has become a running joke among citizens. “It’s as if the government has decided that no matter the problem, rice is the ultimate solution. Whether it’s flooding, fuel price hikes, or economic hardship, they simply hand out bags of rice and think the problem is solved,” he said.

Nnaemeka further pointed out that while the government continues to distribute rice, elected officials, including senators and members of the House of Representatives, have largely remained silent on the issue. “You would expect them to oppose or at least question these anti-people policies, but instead, it seems they’re content with their own rice allocations,” he added humorously.

The agricultural expert also used the opportunity to encourage farmers across the country to take advantage of the government’s apparent reliance on rice. “To my fellow farmers, if you’re not growing rice right now, you’re missing out on a big opportunity. It seems the government has no other palliatives to offer, so now is the time to turn every available land into rice paddies,” he quipped.

Nnaemeka expressed concern that while rice handouts may provide temporary relief, they do little to address the underlying issues affecting the country. “Rice cannot fix infrastructure, create jobs, or address inflation. We need real solutions, not bags of grain. At this rate, even during an alien invasion, I won’t be surprised if the government’s response is more rice.”

The agricultural expert’s comments have struck a chord with many Nigerians, who have grown increasingly frustrated with the government’s reliance on temporary food aid rather than implementing lasting reforms. Nnaemeka concluded by saying, “Rice may fill stomachs today, but it won’t build a sustainable future. We need to move beyond this rice-for-every-crisis mentality and focus on real development.”