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 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 neighboring
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.
SIGNED
HABIB ARUNA
CHIEF PRESS
SECRETARY
JULY 28,
2017
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