Lagos State Government, Chinese Company Sign MoU on Rice Value Chain, Agricultural Productivity

The Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co. Limited, one of the largest food processing companies in China.

The MoU aims to boost productivity in the rice value chain and strengthen food security in Lagos State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, along with other Lagos State officials attending the ongoing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in China, witnessed the signing ceremony on Wednesday. Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture (Rice Mill Initiative), signed the agreement on behalf of the Lagos State Government, while Wang Wei, Group Director of the Rice Industry Division at Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co. Limited, represented the Chinese company.

The collaboration is expected to significantly enhance rice production and agricultural productivity in Lagos, aligning with the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to food security and agricultural development.

Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the importance of self-sufficiency in food production, stating, “We recognize that we have the capacity to feed ourselves if we invest properly in agriculture. That’s why our administration has prioritized agricultural value chains. Our rice initiative, centered around the Imota Rice Mill, is projected to create 1,500 direct jobs and over 250,000 indirect jobs. The mill alone has the capacity to produce 2.8 million 50-kg bags of rice annually.”