By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

Ebonyi Rice Mill Chairman, Mr Obeji Linus, said he has been able to eliminate the era of shortage of rice at the mill as he targeted to offtake not less than twenty trucks on daily basis from December this year.

Obeji made the disclosure while interacting with our correspondent on Tuesday, 27th September, 2022 in an event marking his 100 days in office in Abakaliki.

The industry’s chairman hinted that the mill has improved infrastructures and security at the capacity that they’re targeting the offtake of not less than twenty trucks of milled rice by December.

He explained that the mill has replaced most of the interior upholstery as to make the mill have face of 21st century industry.

“The iron seats that used to be here for ages are no more, within the time we came in, we looked at it as contemptuous to this great mill, we swung into action and we have been able to replace them. we procured 150 of this to give a good face to our company and as well give comfort to our members who have been working tirelessly to keep the company going.

“We have been able to erect 15 Toilets, bathrooms, and we have provided a place for people to wash themselves after work, we don’t want open defecation and we don’t want people to be washing themselves outside, we are emulating the good governance of Ebonyi State that has made everywhere clean.

Speaking on the area of security, he stated that the major challenge suffered by customers who had at different occasions robbed of their belongings have been tackled as men of Nigeria Police Force had been employed to checkmate activities of people who come into the mill.

“We have been able to provide security in the rice mill, before now, we never had a police station, but now we have one, our walls are fully fenced, we have been able to remove touts who were making the place uncomfortable, so many administration could not do that, but we have done it successfully, now our customers can come and do business without anyone harassing them.

“We have reduced the rate at which people get robbed here, today, there’s no more shortage of rice in Ebonyi rice mill”.

The chairman, who shared his aspirations, equally projected the rice mill to would be able to carry out business activities selling 24/7.

” We hope to light up this place and people should buy at all times” He explained.

He commended Governor David Umahi for initiating the peaceful election that saw him emerged as chairman of the rice mill, and appealed for more infrastructure.

“We are appealing to Government to help us build more infrastructure, we intend to build a restaurant here and also to ensure that by December this year, we should be able to load upto 20 trucks here in one day”.