News in Brief:
– The Lagos State Government blames saboteurs for artificial rice scarcity and cites paddy shortages as a major production challenge.
– Residents reject the government’s claims, alleging mismanagement and corruption, as they question the rice mill’s efficiency.
The Lagos State Government has ignited a wave of public criticism after accusing ‘saboteurs’ of diverting locally produced rice, contributing to its scarcity and hindering efforts to ensure food security for the city’s residents.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, revealed that individuals are purchasing rice from the Imota Rice Mill in large quantities, repackaging it with foreign labels, and selling it outside of Lagos. He claimed that this has effectively deprived local consumers of the product.
“The rice coming in from the Rice Mill in Imota, you would see some people going to re-bag them and put foreign name on such bags and then take them out of Lagos,” Omotosho stated. “That’s why it is very difficult to see the rice as much as we would have loved to see them.”
Also, the commissioner cited a national shortage of rice paddies as a significant factor limiting the mill’s production capacity. He attributed this scarcity to climate change and other environmental factors affecting agricultural output across Nigeria.
“In every part of Nigeria, there are small, small mills, and because of the change in weather conditions and so many other things, we do not have enough paddies,” Omotosho explained. “The scarcity of paddies is a major challenge for the state’s mill in meeting its production capacity.”
Public skepticism and criticism
The government’s claims were met with a chorus of skepticism and outright rejection from many Lagos residents.
One individual, Tolu Ajayi, a frequent visitor to the Daleko market, dismissed the government’s explanation as another lie, asserting that the Lagos rice was simply not available.
Another citizen, Emeka Eze, questioned the logic of allowing bulk sales of a product intended for household consumption, suggesting that market-rate pricing would alleviate the problem.
Furthermore, some residents drew comparisons to the previous administration, recalling the availability of Lake Rice during Governor Ambode’s tenure and lamenting the current system’s perceived failures.
A particularly cynical observer, Tunde Olatimilehin, labeled the rice mill an ‘audio’ project, criticising the government’s management and predicting its inevitable downfall.
Also, suspicion ran deep, with some residents alleging that government officials themselves were complicit in the rebagging and diversion of the rice.
Finally, accusations of preferential treatment for party members surfaced, further fueling public distrust.
Government’s stance and public reaction
The Imota Rice Mill, a key initiative by the Lagos State Government to boost local food production, is facing challenges in meeting the demands of the city’s large population.
Despite these obstacles, the government insists it is committed to ensuring rice availability for Lagos residents.
“Lagos State Government is trying as much as possible to ensure that Lagosians are not short of rice,” Omotosho said.
The allegations of sabotage come at a time when food security is a major concern in Nigeria, with rising food prices and economic hardship impacting millions.
Consequently, the diversion of locally produced rice further exacerbates the situation, leaving many Lagos residents struggling to access affordable staple foods.
