AA&R Investment Group's 5,000-Hectare Rice Project Targets Nigeria’s Food Supply Gap

News in Brief:

— AA&R Investment Group has interests across oil and gas, agriculture, aviation, marine services, logistics and technology.

— Its agricultural portfolio includes Manomi Support Services and H&W Rice, alongside a proposed 5,000-hectare mechanised rice estate.

Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, founder and group managing director of AA&R Investment Group, said he is building a diversified business spanning oil and gas, agriculture, aviation, marine services, logistics and information technology.

In agriculture, Manomi Support Services Limited and H&W Rice Company Limited anchor the group’s investments in cultivation and processing. Manomi reportedly manages about 15,000 hectares of farmland, while H&W Rice is a major northern Nigerian rice miller.

Rice Production and Food Security

The group is also pursuing a 5,000-hectare irrigated and mechanised paddy cultivation estate in Demsa, Adamawa State. The land development agreement involved the Batta Traditional Council and Manomi Support Services.

If implemented, the project could provide a more reliable supply of paddy for processing, support employment and strengthen domestic rice production. However, its prospects will depend on financing, irrigation infrastructure, security, land governance and consistent yields.

For AA&R, the central challenge is turning its broad portfolio into sustainable operations. Its agricultural investments will be measured by production, processing output and market supply.