GOVERNOR EMMANUEL OPENS FIRST RICE MILL IN AKWA IBOM
A new rice
milling factory built in Ini local government area of Akwa Ibom State
has been commissioned by Governor Udom Emmanuel, with a promise that it
will give birth to several other factories in the area.
Governor
Emmanuel who was accompanied by his wife said Ibom Agricon Rice factory
was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure that sooner than
later, 80 percent of staple food consumed by Akwa Ibom people, are
produced in the state.
The Governor maintained that it was the
first rice mill in the state, promised to return to the federal
constituency in a short while to commission a cocoa processing factory.
While
promising to expand the factory to boost its productivity, he said the
public private partnership project will give birth to the establishment
of more industries in the area, thanking the youths and members of the
community for the support and cooperation with the promoters of the
scheme.
“Under the present economic realities in Nigeria, it is
not an easy thing to put up an industry like this, and it is really the
grace of God that has made us achieve this,” he said.
“ When you
see some industries in certain places, it is because the owners of the
land willingly donated their land without compensation and MOU to the
investors to build such industries.”
He urged all youths and
stakeholders in the state to continue maintaining the peace in their
respective communities to enable more investments to thrive.
He said
Ini, which had hitherto had no power supply got light restored in the
first Phase of his electricity project in the area, and promised to
complete the second phase of the power scheme in January next year.
Mr
Aniekan Dominic Utuk, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
of Ibom Agricon Farms limited, said the factory at current capacity can
produe two metric tons per hour and promised to ensure that quality and
standards are maintained to meet the expectations of the people.
Earlier
the member representing Ini in the House of Assembly and Chief Whip,
Emmanuel Ekpenyong thanked the Governor for prioritizing his local
government in the scheme of things and promised that his people will
appreciate him with their votes during next year’s election.
Also
speaking, the Chairman of the State Technical Committee on Agriculture
and Food Sufficiency said the rice milling factory was a further boost
to the industrial development of the Governor, and assured that
henceforth all the rice used at the state government house will come
from the factory.
Prof. Udoh said that the Family Rice is a
premium long grain rice bagged in all-weather proof laminated bags,
explaining further that the rice has passed through all the modern
processes of rice processing devoid of dirt and contamination.
Highlight
of the ceremony was the purchase of 20,000 bags of the product by
Governor Emmanuel who acted as an off taker, for distribution to people
during the yuletide.
Leave a Reply