Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos Imota Rice Mill, when completed, will provide 250,000 jobs for Lagosians.
This was revealed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Miss Bisola Olusanya, on Thursday, during the annual ministerial press briefing in commemoration of two years of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
She disclosed that not less than N20 billion has so far been spent on the much awaited Imota Rice Mill.
The Rice Mill, which is billed to be commissioned before the end of 2021, is expected to be the largest rice production in sub-Sahara Africa.
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The commissioner added that when commissioned, the project would provide not less than 250,000 jobs across the value chain.
She explained that the partnership between Lagos and Kebbi States over the production of Lake Rice still exist, adding emphasis now is on shipment of paddy from Kebbi State to Lagos for processing.
“The Imota Rice Mill is referred to as rolls royce of its kind. We want to deliver a value chain with the best processing facility. Since its commencement, 20bn naira has been spent looking at the exchange rate. The Rice Mill is going to be world class.
“On Lake rice, the partnership has shifted from processing of rice to shipment of paddy. So that we can beat down prices. Partnership between states should not be tenured, the partnership should be enduring,” the commissioner added.
She reiterated that the partnership between the two states is still in place but challenges on the regular production of the rice came from Kebbi as a result of flooding and COVID-19 pandemic.
“The idea is to bring rice at a subsidized price. We have to balance it so that we allow private sector to flourish. It is a function of how much paddy we are taking to Lagos.”
While answering question on whether Lagos has plan for its own brand on rice production, she explained that, “obviously we have plan to have our own brand.”
She pointed out that Kebbi rice is in the upstream of the value chain while Lagos is in the downstream and midstream, saying that Lagos has the human and the market for the price production.
