A delegation of Yobe Government officials led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Baba Wali is in Morocco to explore partnerships in fertilizer production and other critical sectors.
This is contained in a statement by Gov. Mai Mala Buni’s Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed in Damaturu on Thursday.
He said that the visit to the North African country was part of efforts by the state government to resuscitate its fertilizer blending plant in Gujba Local Government Area.
Mohammed said that the delegation had so far visited OCP/Jorf Lasfar fertilizer complex in Morocco, and was conducted round the facility by its spokesperson, Amine Jamaleddine,
“The OCP/Jorf Lasfar fertilizer complex is the biggest fertilizer company in the world with an all-year round production capacity of 15 million tones of fertilizer annually.
“The complex has about 20,000 staff with the company producing fertilizer supplying all parts of the World,” Jamaleddine said.
In his remarks, Wali expressed satisfaction with the commitment of the factory and its consultants to partner the state in resuscitating the fertilizer blending plant in Gujba.
“Gov. Buni administration has strong commitment to revive the factory to meet the fertilizer needs of farmers in the state, generate employment and export to improve revenue of the state,” the SSG said.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mustapha Goniri, said that the resuscitation of the fertilizer blending plant in Gujba would support the Buni-led administration’s agricultural revolution.
“Last year, the state government launched a massive agricultural empowerment programme with 100 tractors, solar pumps and irrigation facilities.”
“Other farm inputs were also doled out like fertilizer, improved seeds, herbicides and pesticides, among others, and distributed to farmers free.
“Again, last month, additional 40 tractors were procured by the state government to boost crop production to enhance food security and for exports to improve the revenue of the state,” he said.
Mohammed said that the consulting firm, the African Network Centre, had expressed optimism that the partnership would be beneficial to Yobe and the Moroccan firm.
Buni is expected to arrive Morocco on Thursday to sign more partnerships in Education, direct investments in local government areas, among others.
Other members of the delegation are Prof. Bello Kawuwa, Commissioner, Higher Education, Ibrahim Jajere, Commissioner, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Bukar Adamu, Chairman, Damaturu Local government Council.
NAN
