By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
Lagos State government has vowed to remain committed to the efforts it is putting in to stop the importation of rice into Nigeria, as demand for indigenous LAKE Rice soars.
Officials of the government made the pledge while expressing satisfaction for the rising effective demand for the government’s own LAKE Rice.
“Lagos State is in the forefront of effort geared towards stopping the importation of rice because we consume a lot of rice in the state,” Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture said. “The state government is thus committed to this course and we won’t relent until we achieve this.”
Over 70,000 bags LAKE Rice was sold during the Christmas season, according to Mr. Ganiyu Sanni, the Special Adviser to the governor on Food Security.
In addition to the designated distribution outlets, to boost access to the rice, the state government has resolved to co-opt open market distribution and “high earn markets” on distribution of the product on demand, Sanni said.
“The ultimate goal of government with the production and sale of LAKE Rice is to stop the importation of rice and ensure that the home-grown rice gets to nooks and crannies of Lagos,” the special adviser emphasized.
The state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has directed a monitoring team to visit all distribution centres in order to observe and ensure compliance on rules guiding the sale of the product.
