The
Ebonyi Government has said it was concluding plans to enforce a ban on
the sale of foreign rice in markets and other outlets in the state.
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi
The Ebonyi Government is to enforce its ban on the sale of foreign rice in markets and other outlets in the State.
Gov. David Umahi made the disclosure when participants of the Armed
Forces Command and Staff College, Senior Course 39, Jaji, visited him
in Abakaliki on Monday.
According to the governor, the order would soon be enforced to ensure that the residents patronised home-grown Ebonyi Rice.
“I will personally lead a task-force, consisting of the State
Executive Council members to various markets and enforce the order.
Individuals who are selling the produce will provide certification of
its quality because most of the rice brought into the state is not
parboiled.
“Any rice that is not parboiled after six months turns to chaff
as most of them brought into the country stay for about 10 years before
being imported.
“The rice then becomes poisonous and we have banned cooking of
non-Ebonyi rice inside the state’s Government House, hotels and public
functions.
“The Ebonyi rice still presents its unique taste even when
cooked without meat and we will give you some quantities for
attestation,” he said.
The governor remarked that the state had three functional rice
mills and would inaugurate mills in the 13 Local Government Areas of the
state before the end of 2017.
“When we conclude the inauguration, we will consult our
stakeholders who show zeal and commitment but may not have money to
purchase the mills.
“We will then aggregate and sell the mills to them with
government maintaining about 20 per cent minimum equity shares and the
stakeholders-80 per cent.
“This is the type of Public Private Partnership (PPP) we will
be engaging, in line with the theme of your study-`tour of the state’,” he said.
-NAN
No comments:
Post a Comment