Gov-elect promises to partner millers for more mills
Kebbi State Government, at the weekend, said it had approved allocation of land to WACOT for the establishment of a Rice Academy in Suru Local Council of the state.
The state governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this during a facility tour of the second WACOT rice mill under construction together with the state governor-elect, Dr. Nasir Idris, in Argungu. Bagudu commended the company for enhancing rice production and investment drive in Kebbi state.
The governor said that WACOT Rice Mill had become the single largest mill in Africa, saying that the mill was the first major plant to be commissioned by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. He, however, lauded Buhari for approving the establishment of the agricultural mechanisation workshop and skills acquisition centre in Kebbi State.
Bagudu, who described the people of Kebbi State as good partners, further commended the company for its immense contribution to the attainment of food security in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the governor-elect, Dr. Nasir Idris, said that his administration would continue to promote agriculture and ensure establishment of more rice mills in the state.
He said as a labour leader, he was overwhelmed by the magnanimity of WACOT in providing massive employment to indigenes of Kebbi State, thereby reducing unemployment and enhancing wealth creation.
Idris commended the governor for providing an enabling environment within which WACOT has been operating peacefully and successfully in the state, pledging to sustain the partnership with the company. He, however, appealed to WACOT to extend its financial and material support to rice farmers in all the local councils of the state.
Meanwhile, Chairman of WACOT, Farooq Gumel, said work on the second rice mill of the company had reached 95 per cent completion and would be commissioned in the next few months.
Gumel thanked Bagudu for his unrelenting support to the company to operate with full capacity and extended similar appreciation to RIFAN for galvanising rice farmers to increase yields desired as raw materials by the plant.
He said in addition to rice production, WACOT was also producing vegetable oil, sesame, cashew and chicken as well as other food items in furtherance of the quest for food security.
He, therefore, announced that WACOT had taken the responsibility of providing scholarship to the four girls of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, recently released from captivity for their educational pursuit up to university level.
Also, National President of RIFAN, Aminu Goronyo, congratulated WACOT for successfully establishing a second rice mill, which was nearing completion.
