TheCable

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has inaugurated the Edo fertilizer plant and chemical company limited.

The state government said the plant, which has the capacity to produce about 60,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer per annum, will create at least 5oo direct jobs.

Audu Ogbeh, minister of agriculture and rural development, and Okechukwu Enelamah, his industry, trade and investment, counterpart witnessed the inauguration. commended Obaseki for creating the enabling business environment which saw to the revitalisation of the fertilizer plant which had been non-functional for about 14 years.

They commended Obaseki for creating an enabling business environment and reviving the fertilizer plant which had been non-functional for about 14 years.

Osinbajo expressed delight at the 500 direct jobs that have been created by the investment, saying much more employment opportunities would result from the “ancillary economic activities that would be generated by the fertilizer plant”.

“The President Buhari administration is committed to making it easy for investors to do business in the country,” Osinbajo said.

“We want to achieve this through the promotion of transparency and efficiency. We want every state to be involved in this drive and create the enabling environment for business to thrive in their domain.”

He said the revitalisation of fertilizer blending plants across the country was the direct consequence of the presidential initiative to diversify the economy from crude oil, boost farming activities as well as develop the agriculture value chain.

In his remarks, Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state, said the commissioning of the fertilizer plant signified a milestone in his administration.

He added the facility would go a long way in providing fertilizer for neighbouring Kogi, Delta, Ondo and Anambra states.

“The aim of revitalizing this plant is to make the state self-sufficient in food production and enable farmers get fertilizer at affordable prices. We in Edo State are determined to make food available in the country,” Obaseki said.

“This achievement is an open call to other investors to bring in new technology, create more jobs and expand our economic opportunities.”

Obaseki called on the Otaru of Auchi, the community where the plant is located, to ensure the protection of the facility.