NDDC Plans to Revive Rivers Rice Mill to Ensure Food Security

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced its plans to revive the rice mill located in Elele Alimini, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. This initiative aims to ensure food security in the region.

Reviving the Rice Mill

During an inspection at the rice mill, Victor Antai, the NDDC Executive Director of Projects, expressed disappointment at the production suspension. He stressed the need to revive the mill for youth employment as part of NDDC’s industrialization strategies.

Partnership and Production Suspension

The NDDC partnered with the Elephant Group to establish a significant rice mill project in the Niger Delta Region, but production stopped in 2022. To understand the reasons behind the suspension and explore ways to resume production, the NDDC decided to visit the facility.

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Ensuring Food Security and Employment

The NDDC is committed to fulfilling its mandate of ensuring food security in line with the vision of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director. By reviving the rice mill, the NDDC aims to create employment opportunities for the youth in the region.

Revival Process

During the inspection, the team found that most of the equipment at the facility remained intact and functional. The NDDC plans to collaborate with the management of the Elephant Group to determine the best approach for reviving the rice mill and getting it up and running again.

Steady Power Supply

To reduce the cost of production and ensure uninterrupted operations, the rice mill must connect to a dedicated power line from a power injection station. This will guarantee a steady power supply to the facility. Currently, the mill is running on a 500 KVA transformer, which is not sufficient for its operations. The NDDC will address this issue to improve the mill’s efficiency.