The Niger Delta Development Commission has started with a commercial rice farming project in Akwa Ibom State.

This endeavour will save Nigeria an estimated N152.4-billion annually in rice importation. Besides reducing the outflow of foreign exchange, the project will also provide jobs to many rural dwellers.

Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, a border community in Ikono Local Government Area, is the proposed location for the rice processing factory. The factory has a 10-tonne-per hour capacity and when fully operational, would run 16 hours per day.

Processing activities are expected to start soon.