Ogun To Become Nigeria's Rice Capital, Set To Establish 20,000 Hectares Rice Farm In Yewa

By Mercy James, Abeokuta

A 20,000 hectares rice farm is to be sited in the Yewa axis of the Ogun State.

This would make the Gateway State, the rice capital of the country.

The state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, stated this on Wednesday during the commissioning of the 7-kilometre Ibooro-Imasai- Ayetoro road in Yewa North Local Government Area of the state.

The governor described Yewaland as the food basket of the state, noting that 20,000 hectares of land was needed for the rice project.

He said: "Yewaland is no doubt the food basket of this state and even the country. We are looking for 20,000 hectares of land to cultivate rice here. We will not put our money but there are investors who are ready to invest. All they need is land and I want to call on our Kabiyesis to come together and within two or three weeks, give land for this project.

"I have called the Head of Service, I have spoken to the Olu of Ilaro that he should challenge all our traditional rulers in this area. We are looking for about 20,000 hectares of land.

"We want to turn this part of Yewa into the Rice capital of Nigeria. We already have the investors that have the resources to turn this place into the rice development and rice processing center in Nigeria and I am deeply committed to that as that will be one of the legacies of this administration.

"Help us to look for this land between two to three weeks, you will now see what we will do.

"We are not putting a dime into it; we will only be providing enabling environment for the investors to come and turn this place into the Rice capital of Nigeria."

Prince Abiodun appealed to the people to continue supporting the Federal Government's efforts at repositioning the economy of the nation, emphasizing that though the subsidy removal has affected the people negatively, the government at the centre was making efforts to lessen the impact through palliatives.

While urging the people to take ownership of the newly reconstructed road, the state's helmsman also appealed to traditional rulers to ensure peace in their respective domains to engendered more socio-economic development.

In his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Adesanya, noted that the 21 kilometres road which was in bad shape, was divided into two phases with the first phase of 7 kilometres already completed.

He said the reconstruction of the road which connects about 10 communities and provide access to public schools and hospital, would bring succour and enhanced socio- economic and security of people in the area.

In his remarks, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, appreciated the governor for ensuring the even distribution of dividends of democracy to all parts of the state, adding that Yewaland has benefited from the inclusive policy of the present administration.