Eko Rice from Imota Rice Mill, Lagos
Several Lagos residents have chided the Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, over his recent blame on saboteurs for the absence of bags of Eko Rice produced from the state rice mill in the market.
Many residents who spoke to Business Hilights in a Vox Populi, described Omotosho’s claims that “some people would buy Eko Rice and re-bag them as foreign rice to be sold outside the state,” as defeatist and unacceptable.
Many of them argued that in every state or country where a particular crime or wrongdoing is thriving unabated, the government is a stakeholder in that act and that is why it cannot fight it to finish.
Many respondents recalled that during the era of Lake Rice under former Governor Ambode, it was not scare as anyone wishing to buy any nember of bags can get them at designated Lagos State Government Agric Centre with ease.
One of the major queries leveled against the state government by angry Lagosians include that why is it that the government cannot track the saboteurs and expose them if the culprits are not part of government?
They argued that the only place they have seen Eko Rice was on TV when former President Buhari came to launch the Imota Rice Mill. Some recalled that the Governor during the unveiling speech assured Lagos residents of availability of the rice across the state, but up till now, nothing to show for that governor’s assurance.
They concluded that the government that is blaming saboteurs is the real saboteur against Lagos residents having access to Eko Rice.
Meanwhile, apart from claiming that saboteurs are responsible for the scarcity of Eko Rice in the state, Gbenga Omotosho, also stated that inadequate paddies in the country is limiting the capacity of the mill to produce as much rice for local consumption.
This facility was commissioned by former President Buhari the same week he unveiled Dangote Refinery in Lagos
In January 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the two million metric tonnes per hour Lagos Rice Mill located in Imota.
The Rice Mill dubbed as the third largest in the world has the capacity to produce 2.5m bags of 50kg rice annually and generate 250,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had said the rice mill is a 2x16MTPH standing on an area of 8.5Ha land with an annual paddy requirement of over 240,000MT to produce 2.5 million bags of 50kg rice per annum.
