With Lagos mill, new vista to Nigeria’s rice revolution beckons — Features — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

At last, the waiting game on the completion of the long-awaited multibillion naira Lagos Rice Mill, Imota, Ikorodu, finally ended on Monday.

Adjudged the largest in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the largest in the world, the 32 million metric tonnes per hour capacity mill (2X16MTPH), if fully utilised, stakeholders say will to a large extent support the rice and food revolution in the country.

Standing on an area of 8.5 hectares of land with a yearly paddy requirement of over 240,000 metric tonnes, to produce 2.8 million bags of 50Kg rice per year, the mill, according to the state government, is expected to generate about 250,000 direct and indirect jobs to Lagosians. 
It is an integrated mill with two warehouses and 16 silos (each with a capacity of 2,500 tonnes, 25 metres high). The mill operates in two lines that receive, pre-clean, boil, dry, sort, hull, polish and bag the rice.

In line with the estimated installed infrastructure of the facility, the production capacity of the mill sets it among the largest in the world – it possesses the capacity for complete rice processing. The Special Adviser to the governor on Rice Initiative, Rotimi Fashola, said the mill would perform the functions of cleaning, boiling, drying, sorting, hauling, polishing and bagging of rice, using digital, automated and the ‘latest’ machine in the world.

But despite the capacities the project holds, it has been plagued with circle of failed promises, since the tenure of the former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode till few days ago when the jinx was broken.
Recall that the integrated rice milling operation in the state, begun on the success of the Rice for Job Programme, which started in 2008. The programme covered all aspects of the rice value chain. Paddy processing was done in cottage mills. 
The programme birthed the first integrated mill in South West in Imota, which was in operation till 2016. The mill had a yearly output of 120,000 bags of 50kg rice. 

During a tour of projects in Ikorodu, Imota and Agbowa in May 2018, Ambode promised that the mill would be completed in the first quarter of 2019, but the promise couldn’t be realised due to his failed re-election bid.
Immediately he assumed office, Governor Sanwo-Olu also made several promises to get the plant running, but all the efforts failed to materialise.
For instance, in June 2020, a year after assuming office, the Sanwo-Olu-led government made a move to complete the project, with the partnering states such as Kwara, Sokoto, Benue, Borno and Kebbi, with the rice mill as the offtaker of the products. The government noted at the time that the project was 80 per cent completed.

The year 2020 saw the exit of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, as he was enthroned as the Oniru of Oniruland, paving way for the emergence of Ms Abisola Olusanya who assumed office in November 2020.
On May 29, 2022, Olusanya assured that the mill would be ready between June or July of that year, but it never materialised, before another promise of delivery in the last quarter of 2022 was announced but also failed.

The unveiling of the mill by President Muhammadu Buhari was a dream come true, as it does not only break the jinx, but also served as a boost by the state to support the rice and food revolution in the country.
The unveiling, which signals a new vista in the area of rice production in the country, was witnessed by traditional rulers, government officials, members of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ogbonge Women Farmers Association, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation (SWOFON), and secondary school students, among other dignitaries.

In his speech, Governor Sanwo-Olu who expressed the feeling of the president on the giant stride said the Imota mill is the largest in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the largest in the world.
Said: “The success of this project is due to the Agricultural Revolution drive of Mr. President, who when he started his administration said Nigerians should grow what they eat, and eat what they grow. We are happy that Lagos is a testament of that with the 2.8 million bags of 50kg rice production yearly; Lagos is ready to support the rice revolution and food revolution in Nigeria.
“It will create close to 250,000 direct and indirect jobs. We want to thank the local communities of Imota and Ikorodu, Mr. President is indeed elated that we have started another first in Nigeria and in Sub-Saharan Africa.” 

Though no price has been fixed, industry players and some residents of the state are optimistic that the Eko Rice would force down the rising price of the staple food, which is currently between N32, 000 to N35, 000.
They hinged their conviction on the success of the LAKE rice – an initiative borne out of the collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi State Governments, which later went out of circulation.
One of the reasons the LAKE rice brand was much sought-after at that period, was the fact that it was fresh and wholesome on one hand, and affordable, compared with price of other brands.
While the rice sold for N12, 000, N6, 000 and N2, 500 for 50kg, 25kg and 10kg, respectively at the period, a 50kg bag of rice (imported) was sold for N28, 000; 25kg-N14, 500 and 10kg-N12, 000, while 50kg of local rice rose to N25, 000 across markets in Lagos and other parts of the country.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, who confirmed that the price will be affordable to access by not only Lagosians, but people from other states, said: “This rice mill would produce wholesome rice to Lagos residents at an affordable price.”
The Lagos State Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Raphael Hunsa, who lauded the unveiling, said the new rice mill would encourage more farmers in the state to cultivate more, as there would be ready- made market for their produce.
“This project is very wonderful, it is a thing of joy to us as rice farmers in Lagos. I am happy that such a thing is happening in Lagos.”

He urged the state government to intensify efforts at empowering farmers with implements, to increase paddy production to feed the mill regularly. The traditional ruler of Imota – the host community, the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro, who commended the state government for seeing to the completion of the rice mill, said the plant would positively impact the community and beyond.
“I am the happiest man on earth today because it is during my reign as the Oba of Imota that this is happening. I am 30 years on the throne and I am going to celebrate it with this inauguration because it is a landmark achievement bestowed on the people of Imota during my tenure.
“This plant will bring about those factors of production that will promote commercial and economic development of Imota community. This mill is projected to create up to 250,000 jobs, just imagine the multiplying effect of such a number if added to our community with their dependents,” the monarch said.

The former Agric Commissioner, Oba Lawal, who expressed his feeling on the success of the initiative said: “I am very happy about this development. I remember 2011 to 2012, when the Eko Rice started; it was 2.5 metric tonnes capacity. We were able to create a lot of jobs through the rice value chain. Today, we are on eight hectares of land optimally utilised and the number of jobs it will create is awesome, this is the biggest in West Africa.”

While commending the state government for being the first state to have a state-owned mill and the host community for providing the land, Oba Lawal, said the rice project has contributed immensely to the state’s growth and provided jobs through the rice value chain, right from production to milling and transportation.

However, one question agitating the mind of sector players, stakeholders and consumers is the sustainability of the rice mill, in terms of getting access to the over 240,000 metric tonnes yearly paddy requirement.

But this was laid to rest with the assurance given by the Special Adviser to the governor on Rice Initiative, Fashola, who disclosed during the tour of the facility by the President that the state, in addition to its paddy production, is collaborating with other states to have more than enough paddy.