The Lagos State government plans to sell a 50kg bag of Eko Rice to residents of the state at
between N43,000 and N45,000 while the 25kg bag would be sold at N22,500.
For many Nigerians, this
year’s Christmas festivities would be marked at very low key as food prices
have soared beyond the reach of the average Nigerians. A bag of rice which
hitherto was sold for less than N20,000 will now be sold to Lagosians at
N45,000 in a state with over 20 million people and legislated minimum wage of
N30,000.
The Special Adviser to the
Governor on Agriculture (Imota Rice Mill), Dr. Rotimi Fashola said rice
production in the country has slumped from 12 to 8 million tons
Speaking with reporters in
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, Fashola blamed the fall on the reduction
in cultivated lands as a result of insecurity, high cost of inputs, drought,
and below-average rainfall in four key producing states.
According to him, the declining
rice output trend has put restrictions on the volume of rice paddy that is
processed, thereby stoking food inflation across the country.
He said a 50kg bags of rice
which sold at N20, 000 was selling for N48,000.
Despite this, he said the
state government was partnering with Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange to
make rice for residents.
He said residents could
purchase the Eko Rice through the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE),
which manages the mill.
Mr Fashola said residents can
purchase the rice from some markets, which include Daleko in Mushin, Ketu and
Iddo, Ikorodu and other major markets in the state.
He said for public servants,
provision had been made for them to buy from the Lagos State Inputs Supply Authority
(LAISA), Oko-Oba, Agege.
“I also need to let you know
that we do not sell rice directly. We are in partnership with the Lagos Commodities
and Futures Exchange. They are the major and are the owners of our rice, let’s
put it that way. Because the partnership that we have with them is that they
buy and pay the distributors or the suppliers of the paddy and distributors of
the head rice equally pay to them.
“You cannot buy outside
commodities exchange, the partnership is such that they are the only one that
sells the rice. LAISA pays for the commodities and sells them within Alausa.
“So every paddy that comes
into this mill is through commodity exchange, and every head of rice that goes
out is equally through commodity exchange. We are like the power room that
makes all this activity happen and that’s a major investment or partnership
between the private and public sectors, which Mr Governor has made possible.
“It’s the first time in this
nation that a public company is managed by a private company.
“So, while we have rice going
to the public market, we equally have the interest of the civil servants and
the public servants at heart. LAISA is that intermediary that does that,” he
said.
Mr Fashola said the LCFE has a
representative in the rice mill that oversees the approved sales and
distribution.
“The commodity exchange has
collateral managers that serve as their eye here. So, when you pay to
commodities exchange, the manager ensures that things are done properly,” he
noted.
Mr Fashola said the state
government would improve the distribution channels with time.
He, however, urged the
residents to bear with the present reality, adding that the government was
hoping to improve the mill’s capacity by 20 per cent.
“But right now, the mill could
only produce 10 per cent,” he said.
Mr Fashola said the rice could
not be available in all markets now but promised to improve the distribution
with time.
“We need to manage our
expectations when it comes to seeing it in the market; it is in the market but
let us understand something.
“Lagos is the largest consumer
of rice in Nigeria. Lagos consumes 40 million bags of rice annually.
“On a daily basis, we have
about 25 million people and each person consumes on a yearly basis about 50kg,
so we can start breaking it down to what a person consumes in a year.
“We produced 10 per cent of
what Lagos consumes. We’re hoping we will go to 20 per cent, but right now, we
produce 10 per cent.
“Now, if you look at that
proportion, you will see that we can only do as much, and that is why we’re
saying that go to this market, go to that market, and you will get.
“We cannot flood all markets
in Lagos with Eko Rice. So, if you go to Ikorodu, you will get it; if you go to
Daleko Market in Mushin, you will get it; if you go to Ketu Market, you will
get it.
“You can go to Lagos
Commodities Futures Exchange, and if you want to buy a bag, you can buy,” he
said.
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