Cross River begins work on rice mill

In efforts to shore up its internally generated revenue, the Cross River State government has commenced the construction of an ultra-modern rice mill in Ogoja.

The commissioning of work on the rice mill by the state governor, Ben Ayade on Wednesday is in line with his promise to avoid dependence on monthly allocation from the Federal Government.

The mill, which is the first of its kind in Africa is to produce vitamin enhanced rice, which will incorporate growth hormones for children between the ages of seven and 15, as well as enhance their intellectual capacity.

“Despite that the people of Ogoja are traditionally the number one rice growing community in the South-South of Nigeria, all the rice cultivated there ends up in other states,” he said.Ayade disclosed that the product would be called “Ogoja Rice” and packaged to reflect the identity of the people of the community.