IgbereTV reports that, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, has revealed that the 32,000-metric-tonnes Imota rice mill of the Lagos State government would be completed in June 2020.
Mr Gbolahan Lawal, revealed this on Monday during an inspection visit to the rice mill at Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
He said: “The socio-economic importance of the mill is very significant to Lagos State.
“Considering the number of people that are consuming rice in the state, we realise the need for the quick completion of the mill.
“We are happy with the level of development and after the completion, I see jobs created.
“About 250,000 jobs will be created. The investment and the initiative of this administration is to ensure that this project is completed on time.”
“As a government, we have demonstrated that we have the capacity to complete this mill.
“The mill is expected to produce 2.4 million 50kg bags of rice and the cost benefits is very significant,’’ he said.
Lawal who stated that the mill would create employment especially for the Youths in the departments of Production, Bagging, Transportation and Distribution also commended Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for investing more in the project.
Also on her own part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Onasanya, said the team was at the site to monitor progress made so far on the project.
Onasanya who noted that work has been ongoing on the site, in the last four weeks, promised that the team will continue to meet with all contractors at the mill site fortnightly.
She said, “We come here on a monthly basis to see what we have discussed in our meetings and to ensure that contractors are actually keeping to the time.”
Mr. Sola Okeleye, General Project Manager, CIBA Construction Limited, said the rice to be produced in the mill would be polished, single colour and stone-free after going through all the stages of production.
Also, one of the contractors, Henry Ossai, Managing Director, HenryKarl Construction Limited, promised that his company would work assiduously to deliver before the date of delivery.
Ossai who earlier had a slow down at work due to some equipment trapped at the seaport said the problem has been resolved and work has continued.
He said: “But now, the equipment has started coming into sight. We are working day and night to make sure we meet up with the target. Right now, there is no importation of rice, which means this mill is going to serve a lot of purposes, create jobs and opportunities for the state. We want the mill to run; we want people to be employed and we are 100 per cent committed to the completion at the right time.”
