The Lagos State Government on Wednesday disclosed that the ongoing rice mill project in Imota Local Council Development Area would be ready for production in February 2019.
The statement was made available to pressmen by the Chief Press Secretary of the State, Mr Habib Aruna at an inspection tour of major projects in the Ikorodu, Imota and Agbowa areas by members of the Lagos State Executive Council.
The statement further stated that the project would be the largest rice mill in sub-Saharan Africa with a projected 32 metric tons per hour production capacity, which will create over 200,000 jobs in the agricultural sector as well as produce about 130million Kg of processed rice per year.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya said: “The key takeaway from here is that the construction of the rice mill and the industrial park, among other complementing facilities, are going on as planned. The administrative building, the restaurant, fire station, power station and other facilities needed to support the park and the rice mill are all ongoing concurrently.
“The mill is part of the food security strategy of this administration, as well as southwest integration efforts. It will be the largest rice mill not just in Nigeria but in Sub Saharan Africa.
“Already, we have commitment from the contractors working on the project that it would be delivered by January 2019 and the rice mill that would be the food engine of the Southwest will be in production by February.”
Akinsanya added that the first phase is 75 per cent completed, “The major challenge has been accomplished though we still have some things to sort out but we are over the hurdle.
“What remains is to keep going, speed up and with the commitment of this government; we should be able to complete this project by September and hopefully by the end of the year, all the different markets in Mile 12 will be able to move here and it will be a one shop centre for everybody.”