By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Construction of Imota Rice Mill in Ikorodu, Lagos is at between 70 per cent and 85 per cent and is expected to be completed in the next six months to produce 2.5 million 50kg bags of rice yearly.
The original completion date in the first quarter of 2021 (Q1 2021) was shifted for technical reasons, but the purpose remains producing enough food to feed 20 million residents.
This was reiterated by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Ikeja when he was visited by delegates from Revenue Mobilisation Allocation Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) led by its Chairman, Adamu Dibal.
Lagos Agriculture Commissioner, Abisola Olusanya, had explained in January that the project will ensure food security in the state and across the country as rice is a staple of national diet.
She said the mill will also create 250,000 jobs nationwide and help create wealth across the agricultural value chain – from input supply to paddy aggregation, storage and warehousing, processing, distribution, and final consumption.
When completed, the production capacity of the mill will put it among the largest in the world, and the largest in Africa, with 2.5 million bags of 50kg rice produced yearly, at 32mt per hour.
Lagos will collaborate with other states such as Kwara, Sokoto, Benue, Borno, and Kebbi to meet the paddy requirement of the mill.
Agric and tourism as money spinners
In the past week, inspection teams visited three key projects of the Ministry of Agriculture – Imota Rice Mill, Ikorodu, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Badagry and Ministry of Mineral and Energy.
Finance Commissioner Rabiu Olowo acknowledged the importance of funds in executing projects which will in turn boost food security.
She also spoke of tourist attractions in Badagry, saying, “while employment opportunity here is a single factor,” the market “is worth N200 million which cuts across hotel, beach, transportation, employment opportunity.”
Sanwo-Olu’s Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Solomon Bonu described Badagry as an “untapped treasure” whose ecosystem is important and the employment opportunity is huge.
The tour guide took the team to the first primary school in Nigeria, St. Thomas Primary School, and to the monument of arrival of missionaries in Badagry in 1841.
Geological Services Department Director in the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, Adegoke Kuseju, said agricultural zone soil mapping is necessary to ascertain chemical presence that will affect farm produce.
“We want to know what is contained in the soil. We want to know the best soil for our farm produce, especially our vegetable farms,” he explained to the team at the site of the Ajara Farm project.
The farm is one of the World Bank assisted projects in agro-processing and productivity enhancement in Lagos State.
Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary, Yemi Ayoola, disclosed that the financial assistance will help develop the 750 hectares of farm land around Imota Rice Mill as well as complete other agricultural projects in the state.
“We intend to empower 1,000 youths through this organic and traditional culture. It is a vibrant project. Empowering youths is imperative because of the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos. The government is providing support to empower people and provide food security,” she said.