The Imota rice mill is an agricultural plant in Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria. It was built in 2021 and was inaugurated in 2023 with the commencement of full production. [1] [2] [3]
The rice mill in Imota is 22 hectares big, with the mill itself occupying 8.5 hectares. It is regarded as the largest mill in Africa and the third largest mill in the world. [4] The rice mill has a capacity to produce 2.8 million bags of 50 kg bags of rice yearly, while generating 1,500 direct jobs and 254,000 indirect jobs. On completion, in line with the estimated installed infrastructure of the facility, the production capacity of the rice mill in Imota will set it among the largest in the world, and the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. [5]
It is an integrated mill with two warehouses and 16 silos (each with a capacity of 2,500 tonnes, 25 metres high, 40-year life). The mill operates in two lines that receive, pre-clean, boil, dry, sort, hull, polish and bag the rice. According to Demola Amure, senior partner, the mill is described as the "Rolls-Royce" of rice mills. The quality of the rice "will be second to none". [4]
Only local staff were used for the assembly. [4]
On May 29, 2022, Ms Abisola Olusanya, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, assured that the Imota rice mill would be inaugurated "in 10 weeks" (which would be the first week of August 2022). [6] ”Paddy is already there. (...) I can't ascertain the figure but what I know is that the silos are being filled right now with paddy. They are already tested running the equipment." Ms Olusanya said.
In 2023, Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the 32-metric tonnes per hour where he said the mill will support the rice revolution in Nigeria. [7]
According to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Rice mill is part of Buhari’s agricultural revolution aimed at localizing the production of rice. The governor also stated that the development is part of an effort by Lagos state to support the rice and food revolution in Nigeria. [8]
According to Lagos State governor Sanwo-Olu, full production of the facility will drastically reduce prices of rice and pressure to purchase the commodity. [9] At this moment (early 2022), Nigeria produces husk rice, yet imports hulled/polished rice at a higher price. [10] Processing the national staple food rice in its own country therefore should improve Nigeria's trade balance.
In a rice mill, primarily, the cereals spelt, barley, oats, millet and rice are hulled, i.e. the husks that are firmly attached to the grain and do not fall off during threshing are removed (dehusking). The husks are indigestible for the human organism and would negatively influence the taste and chewing sensations. Furthermore, in a rice mill, the hulled cereal grains are usually also subsequently rolled (oat flakes), cut (groats) or polished (rice, rolled barley). Other possible processing steps are mostly identical to those in a grain mill.
The machines are from Bühler, a Swiss company that is one of the world's leading manufacturers of rice processing technologies. The plant is fully automated. The rice is not touched until it is packed into bags. [11]
A local company, Henry Karll, installed the plant under the supervision of Bühler. They also train the operators. The project consultant, Faocon Nigeria Ltd, ensures that all parties work together harmoniously. [11]
The water supply, treatment, filtration and reverse osmosis are being handled by a local company that has also worked for Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Nigerian Breweries. [11]
The State Government is also developing an industrial park adjacent to the mill. Governor Sanwo-Olu said the park would have amenities that would make businesses thrive and bring returns on investment to business owners.
In order to facilitate a seamless supply of input for the facility, Lagos will undertake a backward integration strategy in the form of collaboration with other Nigerian states such as Kwara, Sokoto, Benue, Borno and Kebbi to meet the paddy requirement of the mill. [12]
The rice from Imota rice mill will go on sale in December 2022 under the trademark of "Eko rice".
The price of a 50 kg bag of rice has increased from 32,000 Naira (64 US-Dollars) to 48,000 Naira (96 US-Dollars) in the second half of 2022, representing 50% inflation as many Nigerian rice farms have been flooded in October 2022. [11]
The economy of Nigeria is a middle-income, mixed economy and emerging market with expanding manufacturing, financial, service, communications, technology, and entertainment sectors. It is ranked as the 53rd-largest economy in the world in terms of nominal GDP, the fourth largest in Africa and the 27th-largest in terms of purchasing power parity.
Lagos, or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimate of 21 million, it is the largest city in Nigeria, and the most populous urban area on the African continent. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until the government's December 1991 decision to move their capital to Abuja in the centre of the country. Lagos is a major African financial centre and is the economic hub of Lagos State and Nigeria at large. The city has a significant influence on commerce, entertainment, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, and fashion in Africa. Lagos is also among the top ten of the world's fastest-growing cities and urban areas. A megacity, it has the fourth-highest GDP in Africa, and houses one of the largest and busiest seaports on the continent. Due to the large urban population and port traffic volumes, Lagos is classified as a Medium-Port Megacity.
Lagos State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 Nigerian states, it is the second most populous state but the smallest in area. Bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the international border with Benin for 10 km, Lagos State borders Ogun State to the north for about 283 km, making it the only Nigerian state to border only one other state. Named for the city of Lagos—the most populous city in Africa—the state was formed from the Western Region and the former Federal Capital Territory on 27 May 1967.
Rice hulls or husks are the hard protecting coverings of grains of rice. In addition to protecting rice during the growing season, rice hulls can be put to use as building material, fertilizer, insulation material, or fuel. Rice hulls are part of the chaff of the rice.
Ikorodu is a city in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is located to the north-east of Lagos, along the Lagos Lagoon and shares boundary with Ogun State. With a population of over 1 million inhabitants, Ikorodu is currently the 12th largest city in Nigeria and growing at a rate of 5.26% annually, it is projected to reach 1.7 million inhabitants by 2035, It is the 2nd largest local government in Lagos State. Indigenous settlers of Ikorodu emigrated from Sagamu in Ogun state.
Olufemi "Femi" Olusegun Pedro is a Nigerian economist and politician who served as deputy governor of Lagos State from 2003 to 2007. Before his election alongside Bola Tinubu, he was a co-owner and the chief executive officer of First Atlantic Bank, now FinBank.
A rice mill is a food-processing facility where paddy is processed to rice to be sold in the market.
Lagos Rail Mass Transit is a rapid transit system in Lagos State. The rail system is managed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). The railway equipment including electric power, signals, rolling stock, and fare collection equipment will be provided by the private sector under a concession contract. LAMATA is responsible for policy direction, regulation, and infrastructure for the network. The first section of the network, Phase I of the Blue Line, was originally planned to be completed in 2011, though the construction has suffered many delays caused by shortage of funds and change of government. The Blue Line opened on September 4, 2023 and the Red Line opened on February 29, 2024.
Kadri Obafemi Hamzat ; born 19 September 1964) is a Nigerian politician who has served as deputy governor of Lagos State since 2019.
The Lagos State Ministry of Housing is the state government ministry, charged with the responsibility to plan, devise and implement the state policies on Housing.
Lagos State University of Science and Technology is a government-owned tertiary institution located in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. The institution was formerly known as Lagos State College of Science and Technology (LACOSTECH) and later changed to Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).
The Lagos State Executive Council is the highest formal governmental body that plays important roles in the Government of Lagos State headed by the Governor of Lagos State. It consists of the Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Commissioners who preside over ministerial departments, and the Governor's special aides.
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is a Nigerian politician who has served as the governor of Lagos State since 2019.
Akin Emmanuel Abayomi is a Nigerian professor who specializes in internal medicine, haematology, environmental health, Biosecurity and biobanking. Abayomi currently serves as Lagos State commissioner for health. He was with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Lagos when he was appointed Commissioner by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2019. Following the reported index case of COVID-19 in Lagos in March 2020, Abayomi was appointed to lead the response against the virus in the Africa's largest commercial city. On 24 August 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered on 31 August 2020.
The 2023 Lagos State gubernatorial election took place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Lagos State, concurrent with elections to the Lagos State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—was held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent APC Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was eligible to run for re-election and was renominated by his party.
Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu is the first lady of Lagos State in Nigeria, as the spouse of the governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking is a Nigerian task force established by the Lagos State Government to tackle human trafficking and irregular migration. On September 8, 2020, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, inaugurated the state task force on human trafficking at the Government house, with the overall objective of coordinating a multi-sectoral response to prevent human trafficking, provide access to justice for victims of trafficking, prosecute traffickers and enhance the process of successfully restoring survivors to a state of physical, psycho-social, vocational and economic well-being. This task force is currently being replicated in other southwestern states of Nigeria.
Timberville is a newly built village at the gates of the Nigerian metropolis of Lagos. It is clustered around the new Lagos Sawmill. Lagos' extensive timber industry will move from the city centre to the new location in December 2022.
Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund is a not-for-profit public-private partnership incorporated on 26 April 2021 as a company limited by guarantee tasked to rebuild, restore or preserve Lagos State public facilities marred by degradation, vandalization and damage through natural or human causes. At initiation, the organization was assigned a portfolio of six public assets at different stages of defacement or degeneration. The structural integrity of the historical buildings however, were either adversely or mildly affected. The six pioneer projects of RLTF were, Iga idunganran Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC); High Court, Igbosere; City Hall Lagos; Fire Service Station, Ikotun Igodun; Lagos State DNA & Forensic Center and Oyingbo Bus Terminal.