Lagos Unveils Fortified Eko Rice to Fight Malnutrition
The Lagos State Government is turning one of Nigeria’s most popular staple foods into a vehicle for better nutrition with the introduction of Eko Fortified Rice.
Produced by the Lagos State Rice Company Limited, the new product is designed to help tackle micronutrient deficiencies by enriching rice with essential vitamins and minerals. It expands the company’s portfolio, which already includes Eko Rice Farm Fresh and Eko Rice Classic.
Unlike conventional rice, Eko Fortified Rice contains added iron, zinc, folic acid, and vitamins B1, B3, B6 and B12 — nutrients considered important for healthy growth, development and overall wellbeing.
The initiative is part of Lagos State’s wider strategy to improve food and nutrition security while making essential nutrients more accessible to residents through foods they already consume regularly.
A major component of the initiative is the rice fortification facility at the Lagos Rice Mill in Imota, Ikorodu.
The equipment, installed in December 2025, received support from several development partners, including the World Food Programme, TechnoServe, Partners in Food Solutions, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and DSM-Firmenich.
The facility is expected to strengthen the state’s capacity to produce fortified rice on a larger scale and make nutritional fortification an integral part of rice processing.
For Lagos, the move goes beyond expanding its locally produced rice brands. Officials see fortification as a practical intervention for tackling hidden hunger, particularly among children and other vulnerable groups.
The approach allows consumers to obtain additional micronutrients through a familiar staple without having to significantly alter their normal diets.
The state has also been working with rice millers, regulators and other stakeholders to improve standards and expand technical knowledge around fortified rice production.
In August 2026, rice millers and regulatory agencies participated in a three-day training programme in Lagos focused on strengthening their capacity to produce fortified rice while maintaining food safety and quality standards.
The introduction of Eko Fortified Rice signals a broader shift in Lagos’ food strategy — from simply producing more food to ensuring that the food reaching consumers also delivers greater nutritional value.
With rice firmly established as a staple across Nigerian households, the government hopes fortification can provide a simple but far-reaching way to improve access to essential nutrients and contribute to the fight against malnutrition.
