The Governor of the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele has joined the Managing Director of Fidelity
Bank Plc, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe and a host of dignitaries including two state
governors to commission a 400 metric tons per day mega rice mill in Kano state
constructed by Gerawa Group of Companies.
Speaking at the commissioning
of the mill and the foundation laying of additional 560 metric tons rice mill,
the CBN Governor stated that before 2015 Nigeria had less than 10 functional
integrated rice mills with a combined capacity less than 350,000 metric tons,
but with the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the
statistic has grown to over 60 integrated mills with a combined capacity of
over 3 million metric tons.
The CBN governor added that
there are about 10 new integrated mills scheduled to be commissioned this year emphasising
that the growing number of integrated mills have been complemented by hundreds
of small-scale mills located across the states of the federation in an effort
towards boosting the nation's food security.
He explained that the private
sector investment that has been unlocked in the establishment of these rice
mills are testimony of the conducive environment created in the rice value
chain through the CBN-led initiatives and stakeholders’ cooperation.
Commenting on Fidelity Bank’s
support for the project, its Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe,
who was represented at the event by the Bank’s Executive Director, Northern
Businesses, Hassan Imam, said, “At Fidelity Bank, we are known for
facilitating transactions such as this where the impact is phenomenal and often
on a national scale. We are pleased to be associated with this project because
of its potential to not only improve the lives of many small-holder farmers in
Jigawa, Kano and environs but to also develop the country’s rice value chain
and ensure food security.”
The chief host at the well-attended
event and Chairman, Gerawa Group of Companies, Alhaji Isa Muhammed Gerawa
stated that the establishment of the rice mill was a testimony of the efficacy
of the federal government’s agricultural development policies in encouraging
farming and other related activities with support from the CBN. He added that
the intended 560 metric tons capacity rice mill will be completed in November
2022.
The occasion was graced by the
Executive Governors of Jigawa State, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and of Kebbi State,
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; captains of industries and heads of corporate
organizations.
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