Mitros Rice and the Hangers-on of a Feeble Administration
Raheem Ajayi
It is not only unthinkable but also uncharitable to say that the immediate past administration of Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (SIA) did not do anything in Agricultural sector other than clearing of land. The land in Eggua which has become a subject of discuss was originally given to National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA. It was the government of Olabisi Onabanjo of blessed memory that first acquired 1000 hectres of land in that place and gave to NALDA. It was SIA that expanded the land to 5000 hectres. Out of the 5000 hectres, he only paid for 1000 and added that of MKO Abiola which was given to the government without collecting a dime. SIA’s administration cleared 2300 hectres of land in Eggua for rice cultivation which gave us the Mitros rice that you derided here. 700 hectres of land was also cleared at Isolu in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.
The administration was able to plant rice on 1200 hectres of land while giving 500 hectres to a neighbouring state that needed land to also plant to meet up with supply at its Rice Mill. Initially the International Fund For Agriculture (IFAD), installed a 2 ton/hour Rice Mill which was being put to use. In his desire to improve rice production throughout the state, SIA acquired and installed 4 ton/hour Rice Mill with a colour sorter in Sawonjo to take care of the farm in Eggua and the whole of Ogun West to add to the one installed by IFAD. Another 4 ton/hour Rice Mill was also installed at Asero for Ogun Central.
Another Mill, an Alvan Blanc Rice Mill of 2 ton/hour was installed in Ijebu Ife. This Mill was recently launched by the Agric Commissioner as if it were the Prince Dapo Abiodun government that established it. It was Sen. Ibikunle Amosun that made it happen through the help of National Centre for Agric Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin. In addition, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JIICA) gave Ogun State 600kg/hour Rice Mill which SIA sited at Ode-Omi in Water Side Local Government area of Ogun East.
It must be stated that the Rice Mills were in perfect working condition before the end of Amosun’s Government. In fact, just so you know, the rice that was processed, Mitros rice, yes same mitros rice, and left in the warehouse at Asero by SIA’s administration was distributed by Prince Dapo Abiodun as palliative during the lockdown occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020. It is sad that the Mill in Sawonjo is under lock and that of Asero has been leased to Obasanjo Farms by the government of Prince Dapo Abiodun. This is a government that is installing another Mill at Eggua. Why did the government lock the one at Sawonjo if another was to be installed? What is the reason for the lease of the one in Asero. I understand a part of the land in Eggua has been leased out to a private establishment to grow rice.
Talk is cheap, however, when put under scrutiny, would it be able to stand the test? The Governor, Prince Abiodun, at the launch of Anchor Borrowers Programme said that 10,000 hectres of land under use has been cleared by his administration! That is not only humanly impossible but also scientifically unrealizable. A bulldozer can only clear 2 hectres of land per day because of downtime, maintenance, etc. A bulldozer cannot work more than 170 days a year; Governor Dapo Abiodun has only been in office for 420 days or thereabout. How much land could he have cleared? You do the arithmetic.
During the 8 years of the administration of SIA, only 4000 hectres of land was cleared and a Governor who has not spent 2 years in office is laying claim to 10,000.
Do not forget that Sen. Amosun bought 4 brand new bulldozers during his second year in office plus 33 tractors with full compliment. Even the Anchor Borrowers cassava programme was instituted by Amosun. It was Amosun’s administration that cleared the 200 hectres of land at Owowo, then paid the compensation of N350 Million for Owowo (farmland) and Wasimi (Airport land under construction). The reason Amosun bought 20 bulldozers two years before the end of his administration was to hasten land clearing through Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) of CBN. It was part of the CACS scheme that was used to construct Owowo Model Farm Settlement which contains 45 buildings of room and parlor self -contained on the land at Owowo in Ewekoro Local Government Area. The land which was expanded to 2000 hectres with compensation paid and cleared by Amosun is now being used by Abiodun for the Anchor Borrowers.
The Noiler poultry programme which was launched recently at odeda farm training institute was built by the Amosun’s administration as well as the mechanized cassava planter being put into use now. Government is a continuum. That is why when successive government is building on very solid foundations and successes of the past, accolades and credits must be given and not vilification.
Critique usually brings out facts about any administration especially when credits are not being given to its achievements. … and there you have it.
Raheem Ajayi served as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Former Governor Ibikunle Amosun.