Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
All
Progressives Congress chieftain, Ambode has moved to consolidate the
production of rice in the state by teaming up with an international
partner.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday in Zurich,
Switzerland led a team of the State Executive Committee members to sign
an agreement with Bühler AG (“Bühler”), a leading rice-mill producer in
the world, for the acquisition of a 32 tonnes per hour Rice Mill.
The Governor, who spoke shortly after the signing ceremony, said
the development was in furtherance of his vision of enhancing food
security and creating employment in the State.
It is estimated that the partnership would facilitate the creation
of about 200,000 jobs across the agriculture value chain, while it would
also bring about the cultivation of 32,000 hectares of farm land to
produce rice paddy, equating to an estimated 130million Kg of processed
rice per year (an equivalent of 2.6milion 50kg bags of rice).
Speaking further, Governor Ambode said the landmark event also
provides the platform for the State to partner with the other South West
States in consonance with the region’s resolve towards achieving
economic integration.
The Governor emphasized that the partnership with Buhler was in
sync with his administration’s economic agenda of diversification of the
nation’s economy and conservation of foreign currency reserve.
“The state of the art rice mill will be sited in Imota, Ikorodu
and it requires 32,000 hectares of land for cultivation of rice paddy.
This investment is expected to create thousands of jobs in rice value
chain. In addition to the current arrangement with Kebbi State, Lagos
would go into partnership with neighbouring states, to ensure
sustainable inputs for the mill and foster regional economic
integration,” Governor Ambode said.
According to the agreement, the partnership with Buhler covers
supplies and installation of the rice mill, including silos. It also
covers maintenance and technical support as well as technical training
of Nigerians in the ever growing sub-sector of the Nigerian economy.
The rice mill will be the single largest mill of its kind in Nigeria and is expected to be delivered within twelve months.
Aside Governor Ambode, other members of the State’s delegation
included the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade; Special
Adviser to the Governor on Overseas Affairs & Investment, Professor
Ademola Abass; Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Suarau Oluwatoyin; and
the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Olayiwole
Onasanya.
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