Agriculture
President Buhari commissions Dangote’s $2.5bn Fertiliser Plant
By Matthew Eloyi
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commissioned the state-of-the-art Dangote Fertiliser Urea Plant, which has a capacity of 3 million metric tons per year, with the assurance that the project would give a huge boost to Nigeria’s agricultural sector, whose revitalization has been a focal point of his administration’s economic policy.
The new plant, which he commissioned in the presence of 18 governors, ministers, captains of industry, and prominent traditional rulers, is located on the outskirts of the Dangote refinery in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos Free Trade Zone.
President Buhari, visibly ecstatic, stated that the plant’s start-up would create enormous opportunities in the areas of employment, trade, warehousing, transportation, and logistics. According to the President, the plant “will greatly create wealth, drastically reduce poverty, and secure our nation’s future.”
In his words, “In the agricultural sector, another focal point of our economic policy, we expect a boom as fertiliser is now readily available. Many Nigerians who hitherto practiced subsistence farming because of non-availability of necessary inputs can now take up agriculture as a business. We expect a rise of new breed of agropreneurs who will add value to farming and make the nation self-sufficient in food production.”
According to him, the federal government is more determined than ever to create an enabling environment for private sector investors to thrive, and that his administration will continue to improve infrastructure, power, and security, as well as enact relevant laws and regulations to encourage economic investment.
Earlier in his welcome address, Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, described the new facility as a game-changer because it has the potential to make Nigeria self-sufficient in fertiliser manufacturing, with spare capacity to sell to other African and global markets. He further stated that Dangote fertiliser has already reached markets in the United States, Brazil, and Mexico.
Agriculture accounts for 20% of the country’s GDP, he said, and the new plant was an ambitious project that would provide both direct and indirect employment, reducing youth unrest.
According to him, Dangote Fertiliser will facilitate the emergence of farmers in the country, generating hundreds of jobs and ushering in a new era of agricultural entrepreneurs (agroprenuers). “This generation of agropreneurs will take to large-scale farming, supplying food and raw materials to our industries,” he added.
The fertiliser plant, according to Dangote, is introducing technologies that will alter the agricultural industry, such as extension services for small and medium-scale farmers. It has established a well-equipped fertiliser soil testing laboratory to analyze and identify soil deficiency as well as the proper fertiliser blend.
The Borno Government has announced the creation of Ministry of Livestock and Fishery Development to align its
Development strategy with Federal Government initiatives, and boost the state’s economic potential.
Gov. Babagana Zulum made the announcement on Tuesday during the swearing in of two commissioners at the council chambers of the Government House.
Zulum underscored the importance of livestock and fisheries as vital sectors with untapped revenue potential.
He emphasised that the new ministry would focus on high-yield livestock breeds, milk production and fisheries, targeting both domestic consumption and export opportunities.
The governor said that “no state government can make substantial money in livestock alone, but we believe with the right investment and political will, the sector can generate significant revenue.”
He said that the growing demand for milk by yogurt companies and the proximity of Maiduguri to Asian and Arab markets, are great opportunities for dairy exportation.
The governor, therefore, assigned the Deputy Governor, Dr Umar Kadafur, to oversee the activities of the new ministry, citing his practical experience and passion for livestock development.
He said “livestock development is not just about academic qualifications, it is about practice and the deputy governor has demonstrated capability in that regard.”
According to him, the ministry will prioritise procuring high-yielding livestock varieties, enhancing milk production and creating sustainable rural projects to support
Local communities.
He said that projects in Mafa, Gajiram and in Southern Borno will soon be launched under the new ministry’s purview.
The governor urged civil servants and ministry personnel to take ownership of the new initiative, adding that the ministry’s success would contribute to the states
Long-term economic stability and self-reliance.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) through the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) has commenced operations after undergoing rehabilitation and modernisation.
The refinery with 210,000 bpd refining capacity located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, comprises two operational units which were established in 1965 and 1989.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the old plant refines a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the new plant refines 150,000 bpd.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government, under former President, Muhammadu Buhari, had in March 2021 secured a 1.5 billion dollars loan to rehabilitate the facility which contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Tecnimont S.P.A, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont Group.
NAN) reports that Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd. is leading the team to inspect the first lifting of petroleum product from the facility after its rehabilitation.
Alia appoints head of agric company, others
Gov. Hyacinth Alia has approved the appointment of Mr. Donald Aorkwagh Akule as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Benue State Agricultural Development Company (ADC).
The governor also approved the appointment of Dr Aondoakaa Asambe as Principal Special Assistant (PSA) on Livestock Development and Animal Transboundary Disease Control.
The appointments were announced in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Friday.
According to the statement, the governor also appointed Mr Abraham Agogo as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Community Mobilisation.
The statement added that the appointments take immediate effect.
It said that Akule brings over 15 years of experience in agricultural systems, community development, research and development, and food processing.
He holds a B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and is a Certified Fellow in Agricultural Systems Development under USAID and Lagos Business School.
Meanwhile, Asambe, a member of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association and a registered veterinary surgeon with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, has been a lecturer at Federal University, Dutsima, for the past 12 years.
He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi).
He also holds a postgraduate degree in Food Animal Medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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