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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government, on Monday, signed a licensing agreement with an Indonesian company, Saputra Global Harvest (SGH), to establish a coal-based fertiliser plant in the country.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman, the management of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr Khalil Halilu, said the MoU was part of steps to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries, while also supporting the development of the Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
According to the EVC, the deal would guarantee supply of machinery and equipment that will enable Nigeria to produce coal-based fertiliser for use in the country.
Halilu also stated that it would ensure capacity development component, which is the training of Nigerian personnel on the use and maintenance of these equipment.
The EVC added that the licensing would give the nation the permission to produce the coal-based fertiliser according to the prevailing standards of quality already established by SAPUTRA.
“Here at NASENI we are all about innovation, technology transfer, and industrialisation. These are the principles that underlie our ongoing collaboration with SAPUTRA, which has built a name for itself as a pioneer and leader in the very exciting field of coal-based fertilisers. “As you all know, Food Security is one of the priority areas on the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The President is determined to build a Nigeria that is not only able to feed itself in an affordable manner, but also one that is able to produce surplus food for export.
“With agriculture we can make a massive dent on unemployment in Nigeria, while also earning foreign exchange that can positively transform the fortunes of the economy.
“Today therefore marks the next step in a journey that we are committed to seeing all the way to full implementation. In this new NASENI that we are building, we will sign agreements, and we will implement them. We will forge vital collaborations, like this one, and ensure that they result in the production and marketing of commercial products that will benefit Nigerians and the Nigerian economy in this particular case, coal-based fertiliser,” he stated.
In his remarks, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr Usra Hendra Harahap, said the event underscored the enduring partnership between the two nations and a shared commitment to fostering advancements in agriculture and technology.
Harahap noted that the collaborative effort represented a union of expertise, innovation, and a shared vision for sustainable agricultural development.
“This fertilizer plant is not just a facility; it’s a testament to the fruitful partnership between Nigeria and Indonesia.Our Indonesian company, SGH, brings with it a wealth of experience and success in similar ventures, and we are confident that this collaboration will yield substantial benefits for Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The state-of-the-art technology and sustainable practices that SGH incorporates will undoubtedly contribute to the enhancement of Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.” He said.
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