John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, says the Ofodua rice processing mills cluster in Obubra LGA, Cross River State, has continued to play an important role in supporting local rice production, creating jobs, and strengthening the rural economy.
He was particular that, while mill owners, workers, and traders whose livelihoods depend on this value chain, will continue to play an integral role in the domestic economy of the area, ageing equipment, limited access to finance, inconsistent power supply, lack of water supply and environmental concerns related to the evacuation and management of by-products, are problems that have to be tackled to have this cluster work optimally.
Enoh made this disclosure on his verified Facebook page, shortly after he visited the Ofodua rice mill cluster on Saturday, March 14, 2026, further stated that, “understanding these realities first hand is necessary if we are to design practical solutions that can scale these facilities to full operation”.
“With the right support, these mills can be modernised and expanded to serve farmers more efficiently, reduce post-harvest losses, and create sustainable employment for young people across Cross River State and the country at large. Our goal is clear, to ensure that communities such as Ofodua continue to be active centres of agricultural processing and rural enterprise.”
“Nigeria has the land, the farmers, and the market. What remains is to strengthen the systems that connect production to processing and to markets. This visit marks an important step toward identifying the interventions needed to scale up these mills and unlock their full potential for the people of Cross River State and our nation.”
He ended by stating that, “the administration of President Bola lAhmed Tinubu (GCFR), remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and expanding domestic food production and processing. Reviving rice processing capacity across our producing communities is central to that effort.”
