Categories: heroNews

Buhari Administration Considers Private Enterprise Catalyst For Nigeria Development – Osinbajo

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said President Muhammodu Buhari administration consider private enterprise the vehicle at which nation’s developmental agenda can be achieved.

 

While speaking at commissioning of Edo State Fertilizer and Chemical Company in Auchi on Tuesday, Osinbajo stressed that for Nigeria to achieve her developmental agenda, private enterprise must be given priority as sole driver of the nation’s economy.

 

 

“As you are all well aware, the Buhari administration takes private enterprise very seriously. We believe that government resources cannot bring about the rapid roll out we need, especially in the areas of infrastructure and industrial development.

 

 

“It is the private sector that can do so. We are therefore committed to making it easy for businessmen to invest and do business everywhere in Nigeria.

 

“Every State and Local Government must be involved in the effort to ensure that private businesses thrive and create employment opportunity for our growing youth population.

 

 

“By harnessing private capital and the great entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians, I believe we can seriously leverage government resources and accelerate economic development.

 

 

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN AT THE COMMISSIONING OF THE EDO STATEFERTILIZER AND CHEMICAL COMPANY LIMITED NPK FERTILIZER PLANT, AUCHI, EDO STATE TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017.

 

 

PROTOCOLS

 

 

 

First let me say how pleased I am to be here in Auchi, I was here in camp as a Youth Corper in1979. I lived here among the warm and friendly people of Auchi for 6 weeks.

 

I have had the unique honour and privilege of visiting two great industrial enterprises in Edo State, all in one day. Earlier, we were at Okpella to commission the Edo Cement Plant of the BUA Group and the groundbreaking of their second 3 million tonnes per annum line. Now we are here at Auchi and what we have here is a 60,000 metric tonne fertilizer plant.

 

This state-owned fertilizer plant has been recently rehabilitated, as a Public-Private Partnership. The clear objective of establishing the plant is to boost farming activities and the agric value chain nationwide. This investment is a direct response to the Federal Government’s strategy of growing the Nigerian economy on a zero oil assumption.

 

 

Agriculture is that well-known but abandoned pathway to our economic diversification and national prosperity. The fundamental constraint to optimizing agriculture is access to inputs, fertilizer being a fundamental input. On the average, a Nigerian farmer uses 13kg per hectare of fertilizer compared with world average of 100kg per hectare.

 

 

This explains why Mr. President negotiated the December 2016 Fertilizer initiative, working with the Moroccan King, aimed at achieving local production of 1 million metric tons of NPK fertilizer for 2017 wet season farming. Reducing costs and delivering finished products at N5000-5500 per bag (formerly between N8-9,000 sometimes N13,000.

 

 

This, again, is an enterprise that will create at least 500 direct jobs and several more indirect jobs. It will bring us closer to self-sufficiency in fertilizer production and, perhaps most importantly, boost food production and reduce food prices, ultimately enhancing food security in Nigeria.

 

 

To the extent that it makes import unnecessary, this plant will also help us to conserve our hard earned foreign exchange. And to crown it all, I am happy to learn of the plan for a gradual extension of this project so as to steadily boost its output.

 

 

I am informed that this is an integral part of His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s plan to support and actualize the job creation and food security objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari especially the NPK fertilizer initiative.

 

I must therefore hasten to congratulate the dynamic and far-sighted Governor, as well as the great people of Edo State, on this great achievement. Not only will this boost the local economy, it will also impact the national economy in a significant way. It is therefore a gift from Edo State to our great country.

 

As you are all well aware, the Buhari administration takes private enterprise very seriously. We believe that government resources cannot bring about the rapid roll out we need, especially in the areas of infrastructure and industrial development.

 

 

It is the private sector that can do so. We are therefore committed to making it easy for businessmen to invest and do business everywhere in Nigeria.

 

This accounts for the Presidential Enabling Business Council set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the work of which was fortified by the Executive Order No. 1, which I executed on May 18, 2017, on the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment and facilitation of the ease of doing business.

 

This efficiency and transparency drive is not a challenge to the Federal Government and its officials alone.

 

 

Every State and Local Government must be involved in the effort to ensure that private businesses thrive and create employment opportunity for our growing youth population.

 

 

By harnessing private capital and the great entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians, I believe we can seriously leverage government resources and accelerate economic development.

 

 

 

Let me therefore commend the Edo State Government for this partnership with WACOT, already well known Afro processing company. Barely 3 weeks ago, I was in their rice milling plant in Kebbi State.

 

Your Excellency, I am therefore very happy to commission this plant, which will further assist us to realise our potentials in this area.

 

To the Glory of God and for the benefit of humanity, it is my singular honour to commission this fertilizer plant.

 

RELEASED BY:

 

Laolu Akande

 

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity

 

Office of the Vice President

 

29 August 2017

jorjapaxson3737

Recent Posts

Rivers Crisis: Why Arsonists Attack LG Secretariats – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has attributed the recent attacks…

3 hours ago

Adabanija: Over 10 People Arrested For Allegedly Criticising Oyetola

 Posts Capable Of Inciting People Against Minister – Loyalists Oyetola’s Aides Behind My Incarceration -…

5 hours ago

Mother Cries For Help As Vigilante Operatives Allegedly Torture, Rape 15-Year-Od  Daughter

..Alleges Police Of Foul Play The Mother of a 15-year-old girl, Helen Joseph, has called…

6 hours ago

Couple Remanded For Maltreating Minors

A couple, Abubakar Yuguda and Fatima Abubakar, were remanded on Tuesday by Chief Magistrate Musa…

6 hours ago

Kaduna Health Workers Begin Indefinite Strike

Health workers in Kaduna State, represented by three prominent professional organizations—the National Association of Nigerian…

6 hours ago

How 84 Nigerian Lecturers Died In Three Months Over Economic Hardship

No fewer than 84 Nigerian lecturers have died between May to August 2024 due to…

7 hours ago

This website uses cookies.