In a bid to enhance quality and consistency of rice production in Nigeria, and develop a well-structured distribution network that ensures efficient delivery on the agricultural needs of consumers across the nation, ARN Foods and AGI Militec have signed a key partnership that will help to advance food infrastructure and production in Nigeria.

The deal will ensure quality control and timeliness in the completion of ARN Foods’ proposed rice mill site at Itunu City, Epe, Lagos.

Speaking at the partnership signing held at George hotel, Ikoyi in Lagos, General Managing Director, ARN Foods, Adetola Nola, stated that there is a massive shortage in supply in Nigeria’s rice market, being one of the most in-demand commodities across the country.

He noted that his company can help to bridge this gap, while ensuring long term sustainability. “The deficit in quality rice is very large, and we can only start from somewhere.

“Rice is just a first step for us. It is a commodity that people consume every day. I’ve been to several parts of the world, and everyone is consuming rice. We believe that it is a community in high demand, and we need to step into this space.”

He added that the partnership with AGI Milltec is a very strategic one that will spur his brand’s vision to success and significantly stride them closer to their goals and objectives in the agricultural space, given their decades of experience in quality food production.

“We did not accidentally get into this partnership with AGI Milltec,” he said. “We talked about longevity, and we wanted something that would not just produce for a very short period. We wanted something that we could scale, and we needed people with experience, and a rich history in food production that we could grow with.”

Adetola also noted that ARN Foods is not just in the space merely to make profits, but also to leave a formidable impact on society, and upscale local food production in Nigeria: “There is a need to boost the local supply of food; we think it is very necessary. The population of Nigeria is rapidly rising, and this populace must eat. We’re trying to also tackle the issue of unemployment through our initiatives, and generally impact people. We are not just in it for the money, we know that ARN Foods is going to be a very great company.”

Business Development Manager AGI Milltec, Emmanuel Del Posaid that the partnership with ARN Foods will raise the bar in food infrastructure in Nigeria, and also help to ensure that the needs of consumers across the nation are fully met.

“In Nigeria, we have been active with rice processing platforms and food security, grain handling and storage solutions with different capabilities. The partnership with ARN Foods will help us to collaborate both with the private markets and government institutions, not only providing solutions in accordance to the technical requirements, but also to provide local support in terms of maintenance, installation and commissioning of plants, and achieve full customer satisfaction – this is our goal.

“Paddy Production in Nigeria is roughly five million tonnes, while rice consumption in Nigeria is around nine million tonnes. The gap is obvious, and this is paving the way for new rice processing equipment in the country,” he added.

Chief Operations Officer, ARN Foods, Muyideen Giwa, stressed that the synergy between both partners will help ensure that stakeholders in the food production industry at all levels and across different parts of the country, are critically engaged. “So far, we have been able to collaborate with processors within different geopolitical zones in Nigeria. We have been able connect with top players, middle men, and even some of the small-scale stakeholders. Our shared vision is to ensure that while we are working with AGI Milltec, we are looking at a common goal, which is to achieve high quality and affordable processing facilities.”

Also present at the signing, Publisher, Ovation Dele Momodu commended Nola’s tenacious drive in ending rice shortage in Nigeria.

“Nola in his 30s is doing incredibly well. He is a person to watch out for in Nigeria. He is not just a friend and brother but a business partner.

“We must encourage people like Nola to do more. Today you can see how expensive food is, so we must encourage members of the private sector to participate fully.“