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Lagos extends Lake rice distribution to shopping malls, supermarkets

By Adebola Ajayi
21 January 2018   |   4:21 am
In its bid to ensure an extensive distribution of LAKE Rice in Lagos, the state government has taken it to shopping malls and supermarkets.The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau....

Lake Rice

In its bid to ensure an extensive distribution of Lake Rice in Lagos, the state government has taken it to shopping malls and supermarkets.The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, who held a meeting with representatives of shopping malls and supermarkets, stated that government in its all-inclusive system of governance extended it to the top markets to ensure wider distribution and availability of the product to residents.

He emphasised that the ultimate goal of government is to stop the importation of rice and ensure that only locally produced rice is consumed by residents.The commissioner assured representatives of the shopping malls and supermarkets that government would not relent in ensuring that the product maintains its quality and wholesomeness.

He explained that the product always goes through different quality assessments before being released to the market for consumption.“Our LAKE Rice is of good quality. The major difference between LAKE Rice and imported rice is that the imported has a minimum of five to six years storage life span, but LAKE Rice is fresh and wholesome,” he said.

  
He, however, stated that the state would ensure a continuous availability of rice as food production and self-sufficiency have been given priority at the state’s policy and strategic levels, which is aimed at sustaining Lagos because the state is the largest consumer of rice in Nigeria.
 
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security Mr. Ganiyu Sanni Okanlawon noted that government would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the stakeholders of the supermarkets to ensure that the product would not be adulterated, or passed off in another brand’s name, stressing that a breach of the fundamental terms in the agreement between the parties would attract a maximum sanction.

He stated further that government has put in place various measures to protect the price and avoid adulteration so that the aim of the government in the even distribution of the product would not be defeated. He added that the government has constituted a committee, which would strictly monitor the product in the market.

The representative of Eko Farmers Mart, Surulere, Mr. Ibukunoluwa Olu-Jacobs, applauded government for co-opting top markets in the distribution of LAKE Rice.

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