Cross Rivers State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade has expressed optimistic that the Rice City Project will boost state’s economy with over N70 billion yearly.
The governor made this known during the test run of the project at the Ayade industrial park, Calabar.
Ayade stated that the Rice city is one of the signature projects of his administration and will be certified ready for commercial activities in June because the seedlings are natural with no chemical added, saying it was time other states and the federal government started patronizing the facility.
He said the project will make the state financially viable and free Cross River from over dependence on federal allocation.
According to him: “When I told Cross Riverians that my ambition was to restructure the state from over dependence on federal allocation, I truly meant it because with projects like this; we are going to generate more revenue for the state. We are partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to ensure that most of the seedlings are acquired from here”.
The governor expressed delight that the state was on the path of economic independence even “after we lost our oil wells unjustly. We now have an investment that needs federal patronage”
He explained that should the state enjoy full federal patronage, the Rice City will achieve a yearly turnover of N70 to N100billion.
He thus called on the federal government to focus on the procurement of rice seedlings from Cross Rivers state because the state has no competitor.
Ayade disclosed that everything about the project was wholly local content with no foreign impute, adding that the factory can produce for 24 hours per day.
Jill has been with Johnson’s Nursery since 1998. https://www.thstone.com/