Buhari commissions large-scale integrated rice mill in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned a large-scale integrated rice mill in Sheda, Kwali Area Council, Abuja, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to boost local consumption and export.

The large-scale integrated rice mill commissioned in Sheda was Federal Government’s partnership with Ocean Glory Commodities Limited, and the mill has a production capacity of four tonnes per hour.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, said other nine large-scale integrated rice mills are soon to be completed and commissioned across the country.

He said: Commissioning the Large Scale Integrated Rice Mill, located here in Sheda, Kwali, FCT, as one of the 10 mills embarked upon by my Administration for the purposes of expanding domestic rice production and achieving self-sufficiency in the country.

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“For the past eight years, this regime has intensively promoted and supported Agricultural development in the country through the Anchor Borrower Programme, the Fertilizer Initiative, Grain Aggregation Centres and Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone Programme.

“This is in line with the Food Security’s component of this Government’s nine priorities. Indeed, as such, our agricultural development strategy has enabled the increased output recorded in critical arable and cash crops.”

He also maintained that Nigeria has the capacity and resources to remain food secure based on the comparative advantage she possesses.

“An aspect of this commitment is the establishment of ten Large Scale Integrated Rice Processing Mills located across the North West, North East, North Central, South-South and South West Zones of the country.

“The concept is a Public Private Partnership between the government and the anchor investors to increase the country’s processing capacity for rice production and fill-up demand-supply gap and make the country self-sufficient in the commodity value chain.”

However, the President charged stakeholders of the Mills, especially, the management to “ensure efficient operations, good customer service and maintenance culture in the operations of the mill.”

Speaking at the event, Peter Cole Chiori, GMD/CEO of Ocean Glory, emphasized that government’s support has enabled the company to contribute significantly to the Nigerian economy through local production and the export of high-quality Nigerian products.

“The Ocean Glory Rice Mill has also created numerous employment opportunities, positively impacting the community and the nation at large.

“The collaborative efforts between Ocean Glory Commodities Limited and Federal Republic of Nigeria have been instrumental in achieving this groundbreaking accomplishment,” he said.