By Seyifunmi Odunuga
The Chairman CEO of TITAN Farms Ltd. Aare Eyiolawi Gbenga Olatubosun has promised better days for rice consumers with a price slash very soon owing to the operations of railways transport system in Nigeria which will imply lots of drop in price from logistics in processing the product.
Eyiolawi disclosed this while featuring on a media interactive program tagged ‘Time Out With Broadcasters’, designed by Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) Oyo State Chapter, held yesterday Friday, June 25, 2021 at Mauve 21 event center, Ibadan.
The event which was chaired by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Raufu Aderemi Olaniyan was witnessed by other stakeholders which includes the President of Market Men and Women Association of Oyo State, Alh. Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh who doubles as the President of Rice Sellers Association of Oyo State, Alhaja Saratu Konibaje, The Iyaloja of Oyo State and Iyaloja Genaral of Ibadanland, Alhaja Sariat Ojikutu Olorunero, and Sulaiman Ileomo, the PRO of Bodija Market.
Other top dignitaries in attendance are: Alh. Olalomi Amole, Mogaji Kola Oolotu, both past Chairmen of Oyo FIBAN, Amb. Romoke Ayinde, Matron of Oyo FIBAN. Mr. Akinboade Ologbojo, an elder of the association and Yinka Agboola, Publisher of Parrotxtra Magazine among others.
The Chairman of FIBAN Oyo State Chapter, Pastor Seun Awodele in his opening address said “We all aware of the growing food crisis associated with insecurity and hostilities. Thus it is timely that this meeting will enable the media to meet with today’s guest speaker to discuss critical issues and the prospect of tackling this escalating problem”.
TITAN boss who’s his keynote address was titled: ‘Food Security: The Challenges of Rice Farming and Milling in Nigeria’ said “coincidentally the railway terminal in Moniya Ibadan is just five minutes drive away from our factory in Ibadan here, so there will be lots of drop in our expenses on logistics to security and insurance, so definitely the price of rice will definitely drop soon”.
While explaining how the insecurity is affecting farming business, he told newsmen that the insecurity menace rocking the country cuts across all sectors and is not limited to farming alone and that is why they protect their businesses through insurance covers.
“We spends so much on transporting our materials from Northern part of the country down here by the way of securing wares through insurance due to the insecurity in the country, and that is why we are commending the federal government in the area of transportation over restoration of rail system, there will be drop in price because we don’t pay out any more, what we need to do is to get our raw materials down here via railway”.
He added that the sole aim of his firm is to make quality food affordable for people and that is why his firm makes a lot of sacrifices to come up with premium quality products that can match with the so-called imported ones.
“If you want to make something happen, especially in this country, you must be ready to do the unusual, so we did the unusual by making sure we took over the public space. We take our publicity seriously and beyond just putting adverts out there, we match it with premium quality, because it is one thing to advertise, and it is another thing to have the products of comparative quality”.
