Credits: Jack Acheme, Kano
The Dangote group has concluded plans to commission the largest fertilizer plant in Sub- Saharan Africa, next year.
The Director and Head Marketing and Sales of Dangote Group, Halima Dangote gave the indication at “a special day” for the conglomerate at the on-going 37th Kano International trade fair in Kano state, north western Nigeria.
According to Halima,” the company’s fertilizer project will be commissioned, by the end of next year and will be the largest fertilizer plant in sub-Saharan Africa with a capacity of 2.8 million tonnes per annum.”
She revealed also that the group has plans to establish a modern large scale Rice Mill in Kano state to process productions from three States, where the conglomerate is currently growing rice.
She said that the Group has already commenced Rice production through an extensive out grower program in Jigawa State which will be replicated in Zamfara, Sokoto and some other States.
“The large scale Rice Mill of 250,000 tonnes per annum capacity to be established in Kano will process all the production from the three States,” stressed Halima
The Jigawa out grower scheme being operated around the Hadeija basin is currently being extended from 800 hectares to 2,000.
She announced that the multi-billion naira tomato factory which was earlier closed down in the year, will soon resume operation, as the challenges were being addressed.
“”You are already aware of our recent re-opening of our flower Mill here in Kano and our ongoing tomato processing project which would have been fully operational by now, but for the tomato disease which affected the production last season, and some technical problems at the factory. We are currently working very hard to resolve these problems and resume operation,” explained the Director, Marketing.
Recession
She said despite the challenges brought about by the economic recession; the Dangote group will continue to invest in Nigeria and indeed Africa.
“We, at Dangote, are not discouraged by the present difficulties. Rather we see them as challenges that we will overcome. Indeed we are looking beyond these challenges to the great opportunities that will unfold if we all make concerted effort and strengthen the partnership between the private and public sectors of our economy.”
The Director declared that the Dangote Group is deeply committed to partner with both the Federal Government and the Kano State Government to explore the tremendous opportunities in Agriculture, mining and infrastructure, “which are, clearly, now opening ahead of us, above all to provide gainful employment for teeming youths across the country.”
Halima was delighted to offer the public a taste of one of company’s newest products ‘’DANQ’’ seasoning in addition to other products, salt, sugar, flour, pasta, spaghetti and of course cement the flagship product of the company.
“By the next edition of the fair we will be adding even more products to these including Dangote Rice, Dangote tomatoes and Dangote Fertilizer,” she promised.
She commended the Kano Chamber of Commerce and Industry, KACCIMA, for organizing the trade fair despite economic challenges.
The President of KACCIMA, Dan Suleka, in his address said that KACCIMA would want the relationship and partnership between it and the group strengthened in such a way that they will commence the exportation of Dangote products to more African countries and indeed other parts of the globe.
“During our interaction as a chamber beyond our border, we discovered that African countries such as Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea and many more in central Africa are requesting for Dangote products especially cement. In Turkey, they are also demanding for made in Nigeria goods and Dangote group readily came to my mind.” he said.
He commended the Dangote group for providing easy access to array of foods and employment to many.
