Over 70 trailer loads of Lake Rice are expected to arrive in Lagos from Kebbi State ahead of next week’s celebration of Eid-el-Kabir.
The Lake rice is a product of a joint venture between Lagos and Kebbi State Governments. LAKE is an acronym formed from ‘Lagos and Kebbi’.
This brand of rice was first introduced in December 2016 after the two states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) to partner in the agro value chain, apparently to crash the price of the staple food. Under the agreement, Kebbi, a state with vast arable lands suitable for rice cultivation would supply rice paddy to Lagos, to be milled at the state-owned Rice Mill in Imota, Ikorodu.
In anticipation of the large quantity of paddies expected to be supplied from Kebbi, Lagos State had last year unveiled plans to upgrade the capacity of its Imota rice milling plant from 2.5 to 16 metric tonnes per hour. The upgrade is expected to be completed next in 2018, hence the continued importation of bagged Lake Rice from Kebbi into Lagos.
Prices of some imported brands of rice had risen as high as between N18,000 and N20, 000 (per 50kg) in December 2016. The Lake rice which sold for N12,000 (50kg) was a major relief for thousands of residents who thronged the sale centres. However, the quantity available was a drop in an ocean.
Toyin Suarau, Lagos State commissioner for agriculture, who spoke to journalists on Wednesday said that the government has made adequate arrangement this time to ensure that residents willing to buy the rice could do so without hassles.
“As we speak, there are over 30 trailer loads in Lagos, by Friday (tomorrow) it would be about 40, and by next week it would be up to 70 trucks and even after the Sallah period, there would be more coming into the state,” Suarau said.
According to him, the rice would be on sale across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas, saying that the decision was to ensure that residents get it without travelling long distances. He said the rice would also be available at LTV Blue Roof Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, while the prices still remain the same as N12, 000 for 50kg bag, N6,000 for 25kg and N2,500 for 10kg.
“There is going to be even distribution of the Lake rice and that’s why we are using all the local governments and the local council development areas. This will ensure wide distribution of the product to as many people who want it. we have made arrangement for the rice to continue to come into the State, so there is no need for panic buy or any form of rush, just go to your local government or local council development area you will get it to buy,” he said.
Suarau who affirmed that the sale of the LAKE RICE would commence on Thursday (today), said the state’s Agricultural Development Authority Complex in Oko-Oba, Agege would flag off the sales while other local government centres would follow suit.
JOSHUA BASSEY
