At the inauguration of the plant, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources,Dr Abba Sayyadi Ruma said it was in line with the 7-point agenda of the Yar ‘Adua administration to promote agriculture and ensure food security in the country. He commended the Gbenga Daniel-led administration in the state for its bold
initiative at bringing the project to fruition
 

According to him “for nearly 50 years of the nation’s grappling with the issue of agriculture, the recurring problem has been that of finding a clear roadmap, and sustenance of various agricultural policies “which is now been tackled through a well coordinated action plan and implementation mechanism to drive the various
policies by way of commercializing agriculture through private sector participation. Noting that agriculture has the potential to rejuvenate the economy, the Minister said the challenge of capital in the face of the global economic recession was being addressed through a N200 billion bond to finance agriculture through an arrangement by the Central Bank of Nigeria, adding that details would be worked out within the
next few weeks.
 

The Minister who said Ogun had been listed among the states to benefit from the intervention fund on rice development, with less interest, explained that “there is a N10 billion naira concessionary grant facility for rice processing to promote rice production and development and our target is to produce 10 million tones of paddy
per annum.Dr Ruma who also identified lack of market infrastructure as a major hindrance to agricultural credit said “efforts towards credit infrastructure will be efforts in futility if no attempt is made to promote market infrastructure and we are poised to organized a market linkage point to enhance growth”
 

Speaking at the occasion, Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel said the Ofada Vetee Rice initiative aligned with the employment generation focus of his administration adding that “it would help in modernizing our local Ofada Rice for global acceptance”. Said the Governor “This Company signifies the robust and virile
Public-Private-Partnership that defines our developmental strategy in promoting the establishment of businesses all across our state. It is envisaged that more opportunities for growth and economy of scale will be created for our local rice growers, attract many of our young people into rice production, conserve our foreign
exchange and hopefully position Nigeria to become a major exporter of rice to the
 

West coast of Africa and other parts of the world.”He expressed gratitude to former president Olusegun Obasanjo for his assistance “in the realization of having this gigantic milling company in our state”, adding that “the various assistance of the incumbent President Umar Yar ‘Adua on our various economic programmes since he assumed leadership cannot be over-emphasized.
 

A statement by Kehinde Onasanya, press officer to the governor said VEETEE Rice Limited joins a growing band of private sector led investments which have found enabling environment engendered by the Daniel administration conducive for business. In the last five years Ogun State has continued to attract businesses in various field of the economy a development attributed to the absence of multiple taxations, unflinching support for entrepreneurs from within and outside the country through incentives such as fast track processing of land acquisition, registration and building approval request, extension of infrastructure to industrial sites, facilitation with Federal agencies, waivers and deferrals of development levies.
Governor Daniel has promised that his administration would continue to improve on the incentives in order to maintain the state’s position as the country’s leading investment destination of choice.

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NOW, SENATE WADES INTO OGUN CRISIS

In another development, the Senate has taken a very keen interest in the unfolding political crisis in the state.In the aftermath of a motion moved by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, that the Ogun State House of Assembly has not been sitting for over three weeks allegedly because of security concerns,the senate has asked  one of its committees to look into the issues and report back in two weeks.

The snag however may be that Iyabo is believed to be one of the parties to the endless crisis in Ogun.She is therefore not a neutral party to the crisis.Governor Daniel too is believed to be flexing muscles with the lawmakers all in an attempt to forestal an alleged impeachment plot against him.

The Ogun crisis no doubt is a sorry testament to former President  Obasanjo`s failure to exhibit his statesman`s influence to stave off crisis 'at home '.In fact, he is named among the key parties to the intriguingly complex Ogun political war which now becoming some sort of  conundrum..