BioFuel Project: Kebbi Govt , NNPCL, 3D NNPCL Sign MOA In Abuja .. Company To Provide Jobs For  5,000  Kebbians

A Memorandum of Agreement for the take- off of an Ethanol Bio-fuel project in Danko Wasagu Local Government, Kebbi state, has been signed by the parties involved.

The company is expected to begin ethanol production from raw cassava soon.

As stated in  the memorandum of understanding, MOU, Kebbi State through the Kebbi state  Investment Company  has five percent shares, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has twenty five percent shares while the core investor, a private firm , 3D NNPCL has seventy percent shares.

Kebbi State Deputy Governor, retired Colonel Samaila Yombe Dabai ,who signed the  memorandum of agreement on behalf of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in Abuja, announced this  during the  Press  conference he presided over at  the Conference Hall of Cabinet office, Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

He said the Bio fuel refinery was located in  Danko Wasagu  because  of the suitability of the soil in the area.

 Governor Bagudu’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yahaya Sarki noted  in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com  that the press conference was held  to inform the general public of the signing of agreement and the handing over of the project to the Kebbi State Investment Company, which handles investments on behalf of the state government.

Yombe said the company would move to  the project site next week while adding that Professor Abubakar Muhammad Kaoje, who was appointed as Coordinator of the venture ,has already visited India to inspect the  equipment  chosen for the bio fuel project- Ethanol Production.

He  chronicled  the multitude of benefits  the project will bring  to the state , describing it as the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria as it is capable of employing over 5,000 people.

Yombe said  the project was part of Bagudu’s commitment to industrializing  the state ,recalling  that  it was initiated five years ago and had its agreement signed in Abuja two days ago.

The deputy governor  said  the project would boost trade and commerce , as well as bolster the revenue generation of the state and Nigeria, in general .

He stated that the signing of the agreement  has signaled the actualization of the project.

Also speaking , Prof. Abubakar Kaoje, the Coordinator of the Kebbi State Ethanol Bio fuel project , says it will provide no fewer than 5,000 new jobs.

‘This all-important project will bring unprecedented dividends of democracy to the people of the state’ he noted.

 The company will also according to him engage in   projects as part of its corporate social responsibility .

He listed these to include provision of primary schools, hospitals and electricity  to  various communities in the Zuru Emirate and Danko Wasagu Local Government.

‘The core investor has an emotional attachment to Zuru and he will soon swing into action by mobilizing to the site.

The Bio-fuel will be produced from cassava and we have to make sure that the soil there is capable of sustaining production.

We are happy to report that the Gwazawa cassava farm is fully operational and it is supporting cassava production across the state’ he added.

Kaoje further said there will  also be some by-products like CO2 being used in fire extinguishers and the production of carbonated drinks.

‘Similarly, there will be the production of both industrial and pharmaceutical grade starch.

The company will also be self -sustaining in power supply as it will operate independently of the national grid.

It will even complement the national grid by supplying power to some of the  communities where the company is located’ the Coordinator added.

He acknowledged the uncommon commitment of Gov. Abubakar Bagudu to the project, recalling that he had met all the obligations of the state government to the project since four years ago.

Kaoje also said  the state government has since then constructed the Kanya-Gwazawa bridge project which   the communities had requested for  since 1979. 

‘The state government has been most prudent, most responsible and most supportive .

The project will cover an initial 30 years on 15,000 hectares of land  and we are happy to be part of it.

We are happy  that we are rendering this community service and we are always ready to do so anytime we are called upon’ he added.

The Acting Managing Director of Kebbi state Investment Company, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim Waziri attended the  press conference- Team@orientactualmags.com
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