Food Security: Lagos mega rice mill project gulps N20bn ─Commissioner

*The mega rice mill, when completed and operational, is expected to ensure a steady supply of about 2.4 million freshly processed 50kg bags of rice per annum, and create over 250,000 jobs ─Bisola Olusanya, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

Designed to ensure a steady supply of about 2.4 million freshly processed 50kg bags of rice per annum plus over 250,000 jobs, the Lagos State Government LASG) has disclosed that about N20 billion has so far been expended on the state’s mega Imota Rice Mill, at  Imota.

ConsumerConnect reports Mrs. Bisola Olusanya, Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, stated this at a ministerial press conference Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Alausa-Ikeja.

It is noted that the multibillion Naira rice mill is a 32 metric-ton (MT) per hour milling facility, which promises to be the third largest in the world when completed.

When completed and fully operational, the mill is expected to ensure a steady supply of about 2.4 million freshly processed 50kg bags of rice per annum.

Besides, over 250,000 jobs would be created in both the upstream and downstream sectors of the rice value chain in the state.

Olusanya said the initial budget for the Rice Mill was N25 billion, but that with the rise in exchange rate, the figure has gone up.

The Commissioner said: “So far, from inception, about N20 billion has been spent on the Imota Rice Mill.

“The mill is the first of its kind in Nigeria; it is on a class of its own. It is the third largest mill in the world.”

Lagos State is putting everything in place as it wants to have the best mill in the world.

On completion, Olusanya noted that the state government would not be getting processed rice from Kebbi State, but would rather get paddy rice from the state to be processed at the Imota Rice Mill directly.

She also stated that the COVID-19 pandemic and flooding in the North, especially in Kebbi affected the distribution of LAKE Rice late 2020 and 2021.

However, the Commissioner noted the state government had not cancelled its partnership with Kebbi State on LAKE Rice.

Olusanya added: “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.”

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