LAKE RICE SALES: LAGOS SETS UP MONITORING TEAM

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has constituted a monitoring team consisting of some members of the Lagos State Executive council and top management staff of the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure a hitch free distribution of LAKE Rice product to the nooks and crannies of Lagos and ensure that residents get the product at approved government price.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya who disclosed this today while briefing newsmen on logistics arrangement put in place for a hitch free distribution of LAKE Rice during the yuletide noted that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode set up the monitoring team as an offshoot of the partnership agreement signed recently with major rice distributors in Lagos State.

Said he “you will recall that the State government recently signed a memorandum of understanding with major rice distributors from Daleko, Mile 12 and Iddo markets in transporting, distributing and marketing of LAKE Rice, this monitoring team consisting of top State officials will conduct regular monitoring visits to distribution outlets and centres with respect to capacity and effectiveness of the distributors”.

Onasanya added that the monitoring team is charged with the task of ensuring that the distributors transport and market LAKE Rice, engage in equitable distribution of the product, avoid hoarding and other sharp practices as well as ensure all year round continuous distribution of the product as spelt out in the partnership agreement.

The Permanent secretary stated that the State government has also provided help lines – 08023818565 and 08033058697 – through which residents can make inquiries and channel complaints about availability and sales of the product adding that the help lines will avail government the opportunity to have first-hand feedback on happenings at the various sales centres and markets with a view to quickly addressing grey areas if any.

“I must stress that there are people available to listen to complaints, answer enquiries and provide necessary help when needed, all you have to do is to call”, he said

Onasanya assured residents of the availability of Lake Rice at government approved designated centres during the yuletide except on Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th of December, 2017 which according to him are public holidays.

He stated that residents can buy the product from the Lagos Television (LTV) Complex, Agidingbi-Ikeja; Farm Service Centre Odogunyan-Ikorodu; Farmers Mart Surulere; Agric Input Supply Authority (LAISA) Ojo; Agricultural Development Authority (ADA) Oko Oba, Agege; Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED), Ogba; Farmers Mart, Ajah and Farm Service Centre, Temu-Epe