BlackHorse Holdings launches 400MT Rice Mill, 240MT Sack Manufacturing Plant in Kano

BlackHorse Holdings Limited has commissioned a 400-metric-tonne (MT) per day rice mill under its subsidiary, Crescent Rice Limited, alongside Aminchi Bags Limited, a 240MT sack manufacturing plant, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, improving food security and expanding local manufacturing.

The facilities were inaugurated on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the Crescent Rice Mill complex in Danzaki, along Hadejia Road in Kano. Both plants are powered by a 3MW independent sustainable energy solution, ensuring uninterrupted operations and promoting environmentally sustainable manufacturing.

With more than a decade of experience in logistics and haulage, BlackHorse Holdings has grown into a major player in Nigeria’s supply chain industry through its subsidiary, Dangwauro Container Terminal. The company has provided logistics services to leading organisations, including Ammasco International, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Ilera Group, Maersk, Mamuda Industries, PIL Shipping and Kaduna Refinery.

Speaking at the commissioning, Managing Director of Crescent Rice Limited, Rahul Bakliwal, said the investment was driven by the need to boost domestic food production, address packaging challenges and create long-term value across the agricultural ecosystem.

According to him, the rice mill was conceived in 2024 with a designed capacity of 400MT per day, but commercial production began at 80MT daily. The company expanded output to 240MT per day in 2025 by installing two additional production lines before completing the remaining expansion phase that has now raised capacity to the full 400MT daily.

Bakliwal also unveiled Aminchi Bags Limited, describing it as a modern bag manufacturing facility that will support the packaging needs of the food and manufacturing industries while reducing dependence on imported sacks.

Highlighting the company’s commitment to quality, he disclosed that three Crescent Rice products recently received the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) Dual Mark of Quality through the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), certifying compliance with African Standard NIS ARSO 464:2017.

“This recognition is an important validation of our commitment to producing quality products that meet continental standards,” he said.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlackHorse Holdings Limited, Muhammad Sani Utai, said the project reflects the company’s determination to invest in Nigeria’s industrial growth despite prevailing economic challenges.

“What began as an ambitious idea between Rahul and me three years ago has evolved into a thriving industrial operation,” Utai said. “We are already planning to expand our rice milling capacity beyond 500MT per day while extending our value chain through investments in groundnut oil and sorghum processing, in addition to strengthening our packaging operations.”

The commissioning ceremony attracted representatives from the banking sector, government agencies, business leaders and other stakeholders, underscoring growing confidence in private-sector investments aimed at boosting agricultural processing, manufacturing and job creation in Nigeria.