Nigeria: Fashola Opens 20, 000 Metric Tons Rice Factory in Lagos
By Femi Akinola
Lagos — Lagos State governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday commissioned 20,000 metric tons per annum rice processing factory in Imota, Ikorodu Local Government Area of the state.
The governor who also commissioned Fish Farm Estate in Odogunyan and a Poultry Farm Estate, all in Ikorodu division of the state, urged the Federal Government to release land in Ogun River Basin to the state government to enable it increase its production and meet the facility processing capacity.
The establishment of the rice mill was a journey that started four years ago when it was discovered that the state was cultivating only 30 hectares of farm land per annum. It was improved to 250 hectares within two years while it has a set target to increase production to 500 hectares per annum, the governor said.
He also urged the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce and Industry to as a matter of priority ensure the development of good road network, constant power supply and improve infrastructure within the industrial estates.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. Bukar Tijani commended the state government for the development of the facility.
He said the facility was in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s agricultural transformation just as he pledged the support of the Federal Government to farmers in the state.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal said the factory built with Korean Technology to the highest technological and operational standards can process rice which would compare with the best quality rice from any part of the world.
He added that the facility, if operated optimally can produce between 350,000 and 400,000 bags of rice per year.
Lawal added that the target of the state was to increase local rice production to enhance food security saying that the country presently depends largely on Thailand and Pakistan for rice which according to him, increases the food security risk level. – Daily Trust
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