Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has commended an International Rice Milling Firm based in Argungu, WACOT Rice Nigeria Limited, for transforming the economic landscape of Kebbi State.
He spoke on Monday in Birnin Kebbi when he received the Chairman of WACOT Rice, Alhaji Faruk Gumel, on a courtesy call.
According to Bagudu, the current expansion of the firm from its initial installed capacity of 120,000 metric tonnes to 240,000 metric tonnes was an indication of the tremendous confidence it had in the economy of the state and Nigeria.
The governor said that the firm was also expressing its huge confidence in the policies of President Muhammadu Buhari that are aimed at bolstering food production, especially rice.
The Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum also noted that the firm has been making tremendous contributions to the state.
Similarly, Bagudu acknowledged the myriad of social responsibility projects that are being executed by the company, including assisting over three hundred women rice producers.
“These efforts of WACOT are showing how much Nigeria has and more companies are following suit like Dangote and others.
“Nigeria is a very big market, just as it’s not an island as soaring global energy prices, COVID-19 and other extraneous factors are affecting prices, including those of food items,” Bagudu, added.
Bagudu expressed optimism that the price of rice will stabilize in the near future favourable to both farmers and consumers.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of WACOT Rice, Alhaji Faruk Gumel said that the visit was to update the governor on the ongoing expansion project of the company on Argungu.
Gumel stated that the project would be completed within the next 15 to 18 months, while the firm will recruit more workers to beef up its workforce upon the completion of the project.
The WACOT Chairman assured that more indigines of the State would be recruited when the expansion excercise of the company was completed.
He commended the efforts of the governor in providing an enabling environment for the company to optimally thrive .
