In line with ensuring that the Memorandum of Understanding between Lagos and Kebbi State on rice cultivation materializes, on Tuesday, 12th of April 2016, His Excellency Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode inspected the Imota Rice Processing Factory in Ikorodu.
During the inspection exercise, His Excellency, Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode was briefed on the present production capability of the Rice Mill, which is presently at 2.5 metric tonnes/ hour. His Excellency was briefed on the inadequacies of the rice mill which includes its low capacity to Parboil and dry effectively.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in his response after going round the rice mill, reiterated the commitment of his administration in ensuring that Lagosians are fed with locally cultivated rice of high nutritional quality. Governor Ambode assured that the facility will be overhauled and be up and running within the next six months. His Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said the intention of his administration was to intervene and upgrade the facility to a standard that will achieve a 10 metric tonnes per hour production of rice and also invite private investors to complement the intervention with an additional 10 metric tonnes per hour.
“This is the only platform we can use to allow the inflow of rice paddy from Kebbi State. You will all recall that we just signed an MoU with Kebbi State and the intention is that we want a consistent flow of raw materials to come so that the era of importing rice from abroad would become a thing of the past, he said aside Kebbi State, Lagos is also looking at possible partnership with other states, saying that on the long run, such collaboration will ensure that residents can consume locally processed rice within the next six months.
The Governor said that a process to make the mill private sector driven will commence immediately, adding that a vibrant infrastructure that will attract the best professionals and experts to manage the facility would be put in place.
“This is a major investment and we cannot allow it to rot away. So in the next three to six months, when we come back here, we must be eating Eko Rice,” Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said.