Maiduguri Flour Mills Gets N1.5bn Liifeline

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, September 16, (THEWILL) - A N1.5 billion lifeline has been given to the ailing Maiduguri Flour Mills by Borno and Yobe State Governments to enable the company resume production.

Established 31 years ago, the company which employed thousands of workers when the going was good, was shut down in April 2013, due to security challenges, financial constraints and other issues.

But announcing the new lifeline for the company during a media briefing in Maiduguri, Tuesday, the General Manager of the company, Ma'aji Shettima Arfo, disclosed that the company will soon commence operation as production machines had been serviced.

According to Arfo, before its closure, the company, which produces flour, Semovita and wheat offal had over 1, 200 permanent and temporary workers on its payroll while over 10,000 people earned livelihood from its value chain.

Disclosing that the company is jointly owned by Borno and Yobe States; Northern Nigeria Development Company (NNDC); Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA) Flour Mills of Nigeria and some individuals, Arfo said: “Sadly, the security situation in Borno and neighbouring states adversely affected the operations of the company which culminated in its closure, forcing thousands of people out of job.'

He however disclosed that Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has made a N1 billion commitment to the company while his Yobe State counterpart , Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has also made a commitment of N500 million to enable the company resume production.

“The intervention of the two governors is part of measures meant to reduce unemployment and youth restiveness.

“The last time salaries of workers were paid in this company was in August, last year but it is gratifying to note that recently, arrears of two months were paid while working equipment have been revitalised ahead of production,” Arfo said.

According to the General Manager, the company will procure more machines in order to improve its installed production capacity of 450 metric tonnes.

He disclosed that beside distributing its products in most parts of Nigeria, the Maiduguri Flour Mills also exports its products to neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.