Blueprint | 26 June 2014
Sokoto to allocate 33, 000ha of farmland to Dangote – commissioner
By Sidi A. Umar
Sokoto state government has approved the allocation of 33,000 hectares of farmland to Dangote Group of companies for the plantation of sugarcane and procession of sugar industry, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Tureta, has said.
The commissioner, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen shortly after the state executive council meeting, said the committee set up by the state government to identify a suitable site had recommended 33,000 farmland in Rabah District of Rabah local government.
He said: “The farmland is OK because there would be no social problem, no compensation would be paid. When the project is completed, it would boost the state’s economy and provide hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities to the people.”
He said the company would have the capacity of producing four million bags of 50 kilogrammes annually.
Meanwhile, the council has approved the procurement of 4, 500 metric tonnes of assorted fertilisers to be distributed to large-scale farmers at the cost of N 562.5 million.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Moh’d Tureta, disclosed this, saying that the decision was in line with the Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko administration’s drive to ensure food security and boost farming activities.
He said: “As you are aware it is a private public partnership and the total cost of this project is N 2.5 billion. The state government is going to have 20 per cent of the equity share, a German firm 10 per cent, while private investors from the state will share 70 per cent.
“The state government has today approved the release of its 20 per cent equity which if translated will amount to N 500 million.”
Aliko Dangote, owner of the Dangote Group, is Africa's richest man.
Sokoto to allocate 33, 000ha of farmland to Dangote – commissioner
By Sidi A. Umar
Sokoto state government has approved the allocation of 33,000 hectares of farmland to Dangote Group of companies for the plantation of sugarcane and procession of sugar industry, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Tureta, has said.
The commissioner, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen shortly after the state executive council meeting, said the committee set up by the state government to identify a suitable site had recommended 33,000 farmland in Rabah District of Rabah local government.
He said: “The farmland is OK because there would be no social problem, no compensation would be paid. When the project is completed, it would boost the state’s economy and provide hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities to the people.”
He said the company would have the capacity of producing four million bags of 50 kilogrammes annually.
Meanwhile, the council has approved the procurement of 4, 500 metric tonnes of assorted fertilisers to be distributed to large-scale farmers at the cost of N 562.5 million.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Moh’d Tureta, disclosed this, saying that the decision was in line with the Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko administration’s drive to ensure food security and boost farming activities.
He said: “As you are aware it is a private public partnership and the total cost of this project is N 2.5 billion. The state government is going to have 20 per cent of the equity share, a German firm 10 per cent, while private investors from the state will share 70 per cent.
“The state government has today approved the release of its 20 per cent equity which if translated will amount to N 500 million.”
