Firm inaugurates N1bn rice mill, targets over 500 jobs for Nigerian youths

*Al-Andalus Rice producers say they decided to activate technology-based production because a lot of people complain about Nigeria Rice due to some inadequate milling processes

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

With the intent to create employment opportunities for more than 500 Nigerian youths both directly and indirectly as a huge boost to the Nigeria Rice brands, Al-Andalus Rice has launched a fresh rice mill in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The company stated that the objective is to complement the Nigerian Government’s efforts at attaining self-sufficiency in rice production in the country, The Guardian report said.

Mr. Henry Chibuzo Ekwugha, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the firm, said the mill would process 150 metric tonnes per day.

The company CEO stressed that the rice mill would create employment opportunities for over 500 youths both directly and indirectly.

Nigeria Rice

This is the time young people need to take over agriculture due to the opportunities available in the sector, stated Ekwugha.

According to him, it is important for the private sector to complement governments’ efforts at resuscitating the economy by investing in areas that would create jobs and drive economic growth.

He noted that the mill would assist the country to meet the domestic demand for high-quality parboiled rice and attain self-sufficiency in rice production.

Indicating that the mill is working towards achieving 1,000 metric tonnes daily in the coming years, the Chief Executive of Al-Andalus Rice lamented that the running cost of the mill is the major challenge the firm faces as it spends a minimum of N100,000 on diesel daily.

He stated: “We decided to go into technology based production because a lot of people complain about Nigerian rice due to some of the milling processes.”

On the rationale for the establishment of the mill in the FCT, he said a lot of rice consumed in Abuja come from the North-East and West due to lack of functional rice mills at the North Central region.

“We plan to expand this mill across the country to create more employment because we have all it takes to process the best rice in Nigeria.

“Our target is the Nigerian and international market because we have the best rice,” Ekwugha said.

As regards the challenges involved in sourcing paddy for the rice mill, Ekwugha disclosed that the firm would set up offices in about eight states in Northern Nigeria, where they will source paddy directly from local farmers.

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