Jobs
NAN-HE-11
By Edith Ike-Eboh
Abuja, Dec. 4, 2017 (NAN) A Kano-based entrepreneur, Alhaji Isa Gerawa, says the new 1,200-tonnes-per-day solvent extraction plant in Kano will create no fewer than 5,000 jobs for youths in the state and beyond.
Gerawa, who is Chairman, Gerawa Global Oil Mills Nigeria Ltd, owners of the plant, said he had invested 50 million dollars (about N18 billion) in the facility.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the investment was directed at expanding the soybean processing plant and vegetable oil refinery in Kano.
He said that the expansion was encouraged by the prevailing favourable agricultural environment in the country.
Gerawa described the wholly-indigenous plant located at Tokarawa Industrial Estate as the ‘‘biggest single Oil Mill in West Africa”.
‘‘The plant has a standard laboratory, 10,000-capacity tonnes soybean storage silos, 15 million litres soybean oil silos and warehouses.
‘‘Based on the 2016 statistics on soybeans production output in Nigeria, put at one million tonnes annually, we have the capacity to process more than 25 per cent of the soybean yield from farmers.
‘‘All our raw materials are sourced locally. We have suppliers of soybean in Katsina and virtually all states in North central Nigeria,’’ he said.
Gerawa commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for implementing policies and programmes aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a food-secure nation.
He listed interventions through the Anchors Borrows Programme, Presidential Fertilizer Initiative and the irrigations projects that had increased water availability in key food-producing states, as key agricultural reforms initiative worthy of commendation.
‘‘However, I appeal to Buhari to ban the importation of all categories of vegetable oil in the country to stimulate the local industries’ capabilities to grow and also meet the country’s edible oil needs.
‘‘While refined vegetable oil is on the list of import items banned by the Federal government, refined linseed, castor and olive oil and crude vegetable oil are, however, not banned from importation,’’ he said.
The Kano businessman also appealed to the government to address the issue of poor access to finance by farmers and agro-investors, describing it as a major issue inhibiting agricultural development in the country.
On prospects of the company, Gerawa said it planned to export its end products of soybean meal and soybean oil, including crude and deodorized oil, in the next three years.
‘‘As a grain and oil company, our foremost responsibility is to offer top quality, healthy and nutritious products to our customers through globally acclaimed best practices,’’ he said.
Incorporated in 2004, Gerawa Oil Mills has transformed its operation from mechanical processing method to chemical processing, with the installation of a 200-tonne per day solvent extraction plant in 2007.
The expansion of the plant commenced in 2014 and was completed in 2017, with a combined production capacity of 1,200 tonnes per day, making it the ‘‘biggest single oil mill plant in West Africa.’’ (NAN)
ENO/OPI/OPI
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