Rice Mill shut over alleged pollution as Churches shelve services to comply with lockdown

The Kano State Ministry of Environment has directed the immediate closure of Integrated Rice Mill, Tiamin Rice Limited, in the state.

The ‘Notice for closing Order’ signed by the director in charge of pollution at the ministry, Mustapha Mohammad, cited “air pollution that aggravates coronavirus patients” as major concern for the closure.

But the management of the mill insisted that government’s claim on air pollution was unfounded and unjustifiable.

The Deputy Managing Director, Tiamin Rice, Alh. Aliyu Ibrahim, explained that the government’s unilateral decision to shut 320 metric tonnes daily capacity plant did not follow any known technical procedure or regulation to justify the action.

He stated, “To set the records straight, there are nearly 30 rice mills operating in Kano State, but our company is the only one affected by the order. The fact of the matter is that neither state nor federal health officials came to our premises to take any sample of the said pollution.”

Although the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) was exempted from the lockdown, the mill halted production for one week to put in internal measures against COVID-19, he said, wondering how a shut company could pollute the environment.

According to Aliyu, while the management seeks litigation against government’s action, distributors should not panic over this temporary setback as a 600-tonne capacity plant that will soon be unveiled in Bauchi.

Meanwhile, in compliance with the total lockdown in Kano, churches in the state remain under lock.

Our correspondent, who went round the city to observe the level of compliance, reported total lockdown at Calvary Church of God at Nomansland, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church and Baptist Church both on France road, The Redeemed Christian Church of God and Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) on airport road.

Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima, Rev. Fr. Michael Adebola, affirmed the church’s total compliance to the total lockdown order in the wake of the deadly COVID-19.

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kano chapter, Reverend Adeyemi Adeyemo, said government had the authority to arrest any individual who ignored the order.