The Minister of State for Agriculture , Heneiken Lokpobiri , on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting said the council approved new 10 rice mills for the country at a cost of N10.7 bn .
Lokpobiri said the states where the mills would be located are Kebbi , Zamfara, Benue , Kogi , Bayelsa , Anambra , Kaduna , Niger , Ogun and Bauchi.
Each of the mills , according to him , will have the capacity to produce 100 tonnes of rice per day, and the private sector would manage them .
Lokpobiri said, “Today , FEC approved the establishment of 10 very large rice mills to enhance the milling capacity of the rice value chain in the country .
“ Few years ago , it was reported that this country needed a minimum of 100 large mills . As of today , we have about 21 , but the Federal Government , in its wisdom , decided that today we should approve the establishment of 10 new rice mills at the total cost of N10 . 7 bn .
He said the cost of the mills would be paid back within a given timeframe as would be agreed between the Bank of Agriculture and the rice mills .
“ The states will be 10. In Nigeria , over 30 states are growing rice ; in today ’ s memo , the 10 rice mills will be located across the six geopolitical zones in Kebbi , Zamfara, Benue , Kogi , Bayelsa , Anambra , Kaduna , Niger , Ogun and Bauchi states.
“ The capacity of the rice mills is 100 tonnes per day each.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu , disclosed that N 10 bn was approved to fight erosion in the country .
He also said that $460 m was approved to facilitate the usage of new buildings at airports .
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