…signs MoU with private firm for 10 tons per hour capacity sesame seed processing plant

….agreement for design of Aso-Pada toll road project

Governor Abdullahi Sule has replied those who took to the social media to criticize the industrialization agenda of his administration, stressing that industrialization is a process.

Governor Sule stated this Thursday, during the signing of an agreement with a private firm, InfraCredit, meant to facilitate the design of the Aso-Pada toll road project that will open up the Karu-Abuja corridor.

Responding to speeches made by the MD, InfraCredit, Chinua Azubike, and Aisatou Djemaoun, representative of the French Development Agency (FDA), the Governor reiterated that the industrialization thrust of his administration is on course.

“Industrialization or development will not take place until you provide the infrastructure needed. And this will only happen by the people who know road. It has to be people who understand what this is all about. Sometimes when you come to an environment where people have no idea of what industrialization is and you are telling them, they think you are just going to take a cement plant or maybe an oil refinery with a distillation unit of maybe 40 meters high and just mount it there. It just does not happen like that. It is a process,” he said.

While also witnessing the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Nasarawa State Government and another private firm, Gudale Farms and Processing Nigeria Limited for the establishment of a 10,000 tons per hour sesame seed processing plant in Azuba, Lafia, he reiterated that the industrialization agenda of his administration is gaining traction.

“Most people who are not used to industrialization will not understand that is how things start. Because recently I see all kinds of comments on social media. Some of these people are saying that we promised them industrialization but that they have not seen the industries. You will not see the industries if you don’t understand the meaning of industry. Industry is for people who understand what industry means,” he stated.

The Governor showed appreciation to InfraCredit for demonstrating capacity and commitment in dealing with Nasarawa State, as well as the FDA for providing four thousand euros as technical assistance grant for the design of the Aso-Pada toll road project which would open up the Karu-Abuja corridor.

He highlighted the significance of the project, particularly since coming onboard in 2019, his administration has been making efforts to open up the opportunities within the Karu-Abuja axis.

“The moment you open that corridor, the opportunities are now endless. You will now have access to the other areas. Nigerians do not understand opportunities until they are open. Once they are open, everyone will now jump in to grap it, saying this is my time. That is when you begin to see the big boys coming after you open the corridor,” he said.

At the signing of the MoU with Gudale Farms, Governor Sule said the event marks another breakthrough in the efforts of his administration to reposition sesame seeds production in the state, especially that Nasarawa produces the highest volume of sesame seeds in the country.

“Thank you for selecting Nasarawa State for your industry. Gradually, we are having these kinds of projects coming one at a time, and Nasarawa needs agro-allied industries. This is an agro-allied industry. You are going to take sesame that we are taking from our farmers in the past exploitatively because we just take it, wash it, process and trade it in the international market at almost thrice the price. Today, you are bringing that value back into Nasarawa State,” he said.

He expressed satisfaction with the fact that Gudale Farms is starting with 10 tons of sesame seeds per hour, with more room for expansion in the nearest future.
“These things start gradually because I like the idea that you are just starting with 10 tons. That is 80 tons per day if you are running an 8-hour shift. If you move to 7-3, 3-11, you move to 16 tons per day,” he added.

Speaking on the Aso-Pada toll road project, Managing Director of InfraCredit, Chinua Azubike described the signing of the agreement as pivotal, adding that the about 8km Aso-Pada toll road connecting the Nasarawa Technology Village to Abuja, is a significant, important unlocking infrastructure that can increase the value of the asset.

Azubike announced that the French Development Agency (FDA) has approved resources for the design of the project.

“We have been able to successfully get some technical assistance funding of up to four hundred thousand euros, which would help to finance world-class consultants. We have the likes of Olaniyan and Ajayi as legal advisers. We have the likes of Ernst & Young as the transaction adviser, alongside the technical adviser and the environmental impact adviser. These resources are very important for us to demonstrate credibility in the way projects are designed.

“We are pleased to inform you that the contract has been negotiated and finalized. AFD has committed to financing these consultants so the state does not have to carry the burden of having to pay for these expert advisers to help to prepare this project such that we can be able to attract private capital to fund it,” he said.

He recounted that InfraCredit is currently working closely on the Nasarawa Technology Village, with the company able to support the construction of over 300 housing units with financing of about N12.5bn of which over N5bn has been deployed.

“Your Excellency, we have followed your journey from the private sector to the public sector, and for us, it has been a thing of joy. We are very proud to be associated with the excellence that we see in Nasarawa State,” he stated.

For Abubakar Usman Gutomu, MD Gudale Farms Processing Nigeria Limited, his company is not only determined to create jobs but also build the capacity of the citizens of the state through training.

“Nasarawa State sesame seeds and soyabeans are hot cakes in the international markets. We are here not to only to sign an MoU but to assure you of our determination to continue to partner with you for the development of our agric economy in this country to the benefit of our people,” he said.

He disclosed that work has already started at the site of the factory in the Azuba area of the state capital.

“The things we are doing now is just a starting point. We asked for land, and we were given. We have brought all the necessary equipment on the ground. We are starting first with the processing of sesame seeds, which have 10 tons of capacity per hour. We are going to have 80 tons per hour if we are going to have 8-hour working capacity in the first instance. All the machineries have been procured and are on ground in Lafia,” Gutomu said.

On his part, MD/CEO of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), Ibrahim Abdullahi, pointed out that the industrialization agenda of Nasarawa State is setting a pace for others to tag along.

The NASIDA MD said with the support from the FDA, and InfraCredit, Nasarawa State Government is able to unlock the opportunity to build first of its kind toll road project that would open up opportunities along the Karu-Abuja-Keffi axis.

He equally lauded Gudale Farms for their commitment to establish a state-of-the-art sesame seed processing plant in Lafia.

Abdullahi said the formal signing of the MoU will pave the way for Gudale to commence construction of its state-of-the-art sesame seeds processing plant.

“You are well aware that Nasarawa State produces one of the finest grades of sesame seeds and long before now, the sesame seeds are taken to other locations, processed in those locations and then been recorded as made in those locations and not Nasarawa the main origin. You are changing the game and welcoming industries like the Gudale Farms,” he said.