Buhari to commission rice, cocoa mills in Cross River

Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State has said the modern rice mill in Yala Local Government Area and the cocoa processing plants constructed by his administration are now ready for commercial activities

He said in Calabar that President Muhammadu Buhari had confirmed that he would personally commission them later in the month.

He said the president commended his stride in the rice revolution when he won an award two weeks ago in Abuja during the rice pyramid celebration.

“The president will visit the state soon to commission the vitaminised rice mill, the modern cocoa factory in Ikom Local Government Area, as well as the newly completed Bekwara-Obanliku-Obudu dual carriageway way completed by my government.

“The president will see a rice mill that is completely new and different from the normal. It has a unit to fortify our rice, which is basically starchy and without nutrients and protein, with vitamins necessary for mental and physical growth of our children. The magnificence and technology of the mill got me award two weeks ago from the president, whose rice policy I have expanded upon. I am sure the president will be very proud of our achievements.”

Ayade said his government had established three parts of 35 other factories in spite of being one of the states with the least federal allocation.

He said it was in the place of governments to establish factories and businesses as he had done, since they most often have ready resources, then hand over to private operators to run them.