The Kogi State Government has handed over its multi-billion naira Ejiba Rice Mill in a leasing and management agreement with Silvex International Limited, a private agribusiness and logistics company in Kano.
The government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Silvex to sustain and encourage agricultural productivity and economic growth in the state.
The Managing director/chief executive officer of Silvex, Alhaji Abubakar Karfi who disclosed the development to newsmen in Kano, said the company, which is wholly indigenous, had been expanding its operations rapidly in recent years.
He added that the company focused on commodity aggregation, processing and trading, and planned to invest billions of naira in the agricultural sector in Kogi State.
He explained that with this new lease agreement, the agribusiness company is poised to inject fresh vitality into the Ejiba Rice Mill Factory. By leveraging advanced technologies, streamlined processes and sustainable agricultural practices, the company intends to revitalise production operations and optimise output.
According to him, the agreement reached was facilitated by the secretary to the state government, Dr. Ayoade Folashade Arike, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Kogi State Government.
The rice mill was one of the projects of the immediate past administration of Yahaya Bello, situated in Yagba West Local Government Area. It has been recognised as a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural sector. However, in recent years, operational challenges have hindered its full capacity utilisation, prompting the need for intervention and modernisation.
