Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that the 32mtph Rice Mill in Imota will be commissioned in December.

In his 2023 budget speech presented at the Lagos House of Assembly last Thursday, Sanwo-Olu said that the rice mill, which is the largest of its kind in Sub-Sahara Africa, would create about 350,000 direct and indirect jobs along the rice value chain. 

Speaking on the importance of the state being food secure, he said: “What COVID has shown us is that food security is also a point of our vulnerability when the supply chain is disrupted.

“Accordingly, and in response to this challenge, we are building Africa’s largest food logistics park with the intention of creating over 16,000 direct and indirect jobs, reduce food wastages by as much as 50 per cent as well as establish a commodities exchange all designed to drive down food prices by at least 30 per cent.

“The Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project is being implemented in Lagos, with more than 12,000 jobs already created.”

The governor noted that with Lagos State consuming about 50 per cent of the red meat produced in Nigeria, the state is seizing the opportunity to invest in building Feed Lots and modern abattoirs. “Accordingly, we have acquired 750 hectares of land in Igbodu for cattle feedlot.

“Similarly, as a state blessed with an abundance of water, we have equally established a Fish Value Chain Programme which has seen increased economic activities in the fishing communities of Badagry, Epe, and Ikorodu. This programme has provided job opportunities for our people in the fishing communities, many of whom have been empowered with fibre glass boats, and fishing nets.”