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Imo State have a good number of nice relaxation spots suitable for families, loved ones and friends. You should consider relaxing in some of this nice places this Christmas season.

Ala Imo State wu Oke Mba !!! # Ala Igbo on the move

more !

Notice the two love birds having a romantic time together.

IDAgro Ltd to Establish 600MTPD Nkerefi Tomato Processing Plant and Farms in Enugu

Despite the comparative advantage Nigeria enjoys in terms of tomato production, being ranked No.2 in Africa at 1.71 million metric tonnes valued at N87.0 billion with a cultivated area of 254,430 hectares, local processing of tomato to paste in Nigeria is currently almost non-existent. Unfortunately, Nigeria maintains the status of the world’s largest importer of processed tomato paste still importing tomato paste to the tune of 65,809 tons valued at N11.7 billion ($77.167 million) annually. Nkerefi in Enugu State as a location of this project has been chosen for a number of reasons:

1. Agronomical suitability for the cultivation of tomatoes in Enugu State.
2. The central location of the proposed production site in relation to key markets in Nigeria.
3. Proximity to the agricultural research facilities at the University of Nigeria Nssuka affords the project easy access to some of the best agronomical expertise when required.
4. Enugu State is in the rice producing zone which not only is good for crop rotation with tomatoes, but also affords the project the benefit of trained agro-industrial workforce from the numerous rice milling operations in the area.



The proposed 600MTPD tomato paste processing plant will bring over $16.6million in direct project-related investment inflow into Enugu State. The project is expected to take 10 months from ground breaking to factory completion. The plant will produce 11,000MT of tomato paste annually both for the local market and for export. To achieve this, IDAgro will:

• Build a 600MT tomato processing plant working at capacity for at least 110 days in the year.
• Seasonally develop 330-400HA of tomato farms either directly or under an out-grower scheme for the supply of good quality ripe tomatoes suitable for industrial process having at least a solids content of 4 - 5°Brix.
• The farm will supply about 25-27 tons/hour continuously and regularly to the processing plant during production runs.
• Install a greenhouse to produce 10 million hybrid tomato seedlings per season for transplanting.
• Employ over 300 hands at harvest to ensure continuous supply of tomatoes at 25MT/hr

Land Acquisition
In June 2014 stakeholders and land owners in Umuogodo Village, Nkerefi, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State formally signed over 1,000 Hectares of farmland to IDAgro Limited for the development of a 600MT per day tomato processing plant and farm. Following the signing of the conveyance document, IDAgro has followed up with an application to the state government for a certificate of occupancy to further secure the acquisition and so far the application has progressed with remarkable speed through the bureaucracy of the Ministry of Lands.

Infrastructure Delivery
With the acquisition of the land, efforts have shifted to pre-implementation activities, and top on the list has been the provision of access roads to the site. To this end over 5km of farm roads was commissioned and built in July 2014. In spite of tough weather conditions and some difficult terrain encountered during the exercise, the road was built within budget and on schedule. The next stage of work would involve the construction of culverts across some seasonal streams on the property to ensure immediate motorable access right to the river that marks the extreme boundary of the property.

Technical Preparations We have continued our conversations with FENCO; our current preferred technical partners while at the same time working on getting competing quotes from both Cavalieri and Shanghai Beyond. On the 31st of July we arranged for a site visit with Paolo De Scisciolo the Commercial Lead for FENCO in Africa.

Next Steps...
August
Soil Tests: Soil composition tests to be conducted and agronomic analysis to determine soil improvement requirements if any for tomato cultivation. Human Resources: Commence search for candidates to fill the roles of farm and factory managers. Also identify agronomic consultants to the project.

October
Test Planting: 5 Hectares of tomato will be planted in October 2014 to test yield per hectare, verify input costs, ascertain best agronomic practices and at harvest do a trial field evacuation test to ascertain manpower required for the planned harvest rate of 50 tons an hour.
Factory Layout: Commence final design review of factory layout and establish bill of quantities for ground works and construction.

http://www.idagroltd.com/project.asp

Enugu the Coal City State #Ala Igbo on the move

Together we shall make Igbo land great. Kudos to Rarediamond, if we all can be like you in propagating and pushing for peaceful coexistence among all the groups in Igbo land, the Igbo nation will be the greatest black race on earth. Kudos once again

CaptainOjemba:
Together we shall make Igbo land great. Kudos to Rarediamond, if we all can be like you in propagating and pushing for peaceful coexistence among all the groups in Igbo land, the Igbo nation will be the greatest black race on earth. Kudos once again

Thanks bro. We have no ethnic nation to call our own apart from Igbo.

Below are more pictures of Enugu. Deje nu !!!!

Industries are springing up and succeeding all over Ala Igbo. # Ala Igbo on the move

Cutix Plc Nnewi: Revenue growth despite challenges
September 9, 2014 | Filed under: main story | Author: BALA AUGIE

Historical Background

Cutix started production with one extrusion line in 1984 with staff strength of 20, and by 1985 it added a second line. By 1986, Cutix added several wire-processing lines to be at par with leading cable makers in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world. All machines were specified, installed and commissioned by Cutix staff.

The company also incorporated as much locally fabricated parts as it could without lowering overall quality and efficiency. In 1992, the company went ahead to become the first manufacturer to acquire a plastic compounding line. In 1999, the first machine built by staff of Cutix was successfully put to service.

Cutix_plc

Financial results for the year ended July 2014

For the three months ended July 2014, Cutix gross revenue increased by 4.41 percent to N575.02 million from N550.72 million in the same period of the corresponding period (Q1) July 2013.

Profit before tax PBT rose by 27.34 percent to N44.62 million in Q1 2014 compared with N61.41 million as at (Q1) July 2013.

Net margin, a measure of profitability and efficiency dropped to 5.04 percent in 2014 from 7.42 percent as at Q1 2013

Earnings per share EPS fell by 40 percent to 3k as against 5k as the last year.

The company incurred high cost of production as cost of sales margin increased to 72.85 percent in the review period from 1.39 percent last year, while cost of sales jumped by 6.75 percent to N418.93 million.

Gross margin remained flattish at 27 percent in the period under review while gross profits were down slightly by 1.39 percent to N156.08 million in (Q1) July 2014 as against N158.23 million (Q1) 2013.

Distribution and Administrative expenses were up by 9.33 percent to N92.17 million as against N84.30 million last year.

Current ratio, which measures the ability of a firm to meet its short term obligation, was 1.23x which is lower than the 2.1x industry average.

Due to the company’s expansion drive, its loans soared as finance costs surged by 72.13 percent to N25.82 million in Q1 July 2014 compared with N15 million the corresponding period of Q1 July 2013.

Furthermore, total borrowings in the balance sheet spiked by 87.50 percent to N808.14 million as against N431.1 million the preceding year.

Total assets were up by 28.70 percent to N1.79 billion in Q1 July 2014 compared with N1.39 billion the preceding year.

Return on average equity ROE was 27.96 percent, while the return on average assets ROAA stood at 1.23 percent in the review period.

Share performance and outlook

The company’s share price closed at N1.83 on the floor of the Nigeria stock exchange while market capitalization stood at N1.67 billion.

In order to boost operation, the indigenous cable company has installed a 300 million cable plant, the first among cable operators in Nigeria.

Growth in the Nigerian economy which is expected to expand by 6.4 percent in 2014 means that Cutix will continue to have a growing market and business.

The rising need for housing is expected to drive the demand for building materials such as cables, which means Cutix has stellar future prospects.

Influx of Cheap cables undermining growth now

The company’s growth potential is however being undermined now by the importation of cheap and substandard cables from Asian countries such as China into the Nigerian market.

This is in connivance with some corrupt Nigeria custom authorities who allow such goods into the country.

Analysts call on government to strengthen its institution as the flooding this materials slows the sales of cable manufacturing companies.

Limited Power Supply hurts bottom line performance

Cutix had earlier in the year complained about shortage of power supply from the National grid as it used 100 percent generator to power its plants for the purpose of production.

This as shown in the financial analysis section may have resulted in huge overhead costs which bled profits.

It must be noted that if power were available, cost would have been reduced by 40 percent.

The privatization of the power sector by the Nigeria government analysts

http://businessdayonline.com/2014/09/cutix-plc-revenue-growth-despite-challenges/#.VJhni_8EDw

I like the think-home attitude of these business men. According to Flavour, you have to be a little bit more wiser.

Op, thanks for the update. Wonderful thread.

NB plc to commission N18bn Aba plant 1st qtr 2015
December 24, 2014 | Filed under: main story | Author: GODFREY OFURUM
1

… targets production capacity of 2.4 million HL per annum

Nicolaas Vervelde, managing director/chief executive of Nigeria Breweries (NB) plc, the country’s foremost brewing firm, has revealed that its new Aba plant, would be commissioned in the first quarter of 2015, as the expansion project is virtually complete.

Vervelde in his address at the closing ceremony of the 13th edition of the Nigeria Breweries sponsored Aba Sports Club Golf tournament, held Sunday, in the commercial city of Aba, revealed that the new facility, would create more employment opportunities, increase revenue generation to both Local, State and Federal Governments, as well as improve the standard of living of the people of the area.

Represented at the event by Ukeje Udah, brewery manager, NB Plc, Aba, Vervelde explained that the project worth N18 billion, would scale up the production capacity of the brewery to 2.4 million hectoliters (HL) per annum.

Facilities provided at the plant include a new packaging line, brewery house, new water treatment plant and a new building to accommodate senior technical staff of the company.

“I can tell you that all these projects we are talking about worth about N18 billion, is virtually complete and by 2015, our volume will move from 1.3 million HL to 2.4 million HL per annum.

The NB plc boss, expressed gratitude to Governor Theodore Orji, for restoring peace in Aba and its environs, which according to him, has made it possible for the continued existence of the plant in the area.

He observed that the peaceful atmosphere in Abia and especially Aba, would attract more investments to the State.

According to him, the city of Aba, has been adjudged as one of the safest towns in the country, which influenced the decision of management to agree to invest such amount of money in the area.

NB plc started operations in Aba in 1957, but scaled down its operations in the city in 2005, due to what its management described as economic downturn and high cost of production.

However, it re-established interest in the town with the commissioning of an ultra-modern ‘Nano Technology’ plant in October 2008, which was estimated to have gulped over N4 billion, thereby increasing its production capacity from 5000,000 litres to 1.4 million litres of products per annum, a development which stakeholders applauded.

The investment is already paying off as the old staff of the company that were laid off as a result of the closure in 2005, have all been reabsorbed and new job openings created for the unemployed youths in the State.

The Aba plant of the NB plc, contributes 51 percent of products in the South-south area of the country and contributes 21 percent of the total volume of the company’s products in the country.

http://businessdayonline.com/2014/12/nb-plc-to-commission-n18bn-aba-plant-1st-qtr-2015/#.VJ541_8EDw

Ibo ; a state of being Ibo
Iboland Ibo Territory
Iboman an adult Ibo male
Iboboy a young Ibo person(male) Ibogirl Ayoung Ibo person (female)
Iboville A small part of Iboland like Awoamama e.g,
Iboness General Ibo condition
Iboist an Ibo Advocate or champion e,g Achebe Iboism Ibo advocacy
Ibotic Distinctly Ibo Iboistic =Ibotic
Iboing To make Ibo Iboed Now fully Ibo
Ibo-made crafted by Ibos
Ibonize Transform to Iboness usually of a place or people Ibonization See Ibonize Ibonizational see Ibonize
Iborific scarily Ibo
Ibofy To make Ibo Ibofied Ibofying Ibofier Ibofication see Ibofy
Ibothetic Ibo kind (of logic)
Iboology The study of Ibos and Ibo Things
Ibologue one versed or knowledgeable in Ibo affairs,history,culture etc
Iboologist=An Ibo expert
Ibohood State of being Ibo also place where Ibos are found in large numbers or hang out
Ibolly In an Ibo way
Iboward moving in the direction of an Ibo or approaching Iboness
Ibolitics Ibo kind of politics
Ibolution In the process of becoming Ibofied
Ibodom an old Ibo kingdom
Ibometer Ibometric Measure of Iboness
Ibotechnic An Ibo institute of learning
Ibocentric Focussed only on Ibos and Ibo matters
Iboteria Place where Ibo snacks are sold see Akputeria
Ibomart Ibo market or mall
Ibonalysis = Applied or advanced Ibo logic
Ibonet = Ibo websites Ibo Blogs etc
Ibowood= Ibo movies and actors generallly
Ibonomics = Ibo economic activity
Ibophile Ibo lover or lover of Ibo Things Ibophilia The condition of an Ibophile Ibophilic
Ibophobe Ibo hater Ibophobia Ibophobic Ibophrenia(offensive see specialized texts)
Iborize to destroy by Ibo methods Iborization
Ibomatic having an Ibo flavour
Ibolify To Imbue with Iboness Ibolifying
Ibolyse To alter chemically through Ibo technology Ibolysing Ibolyzation.etc
Ibozine an Ibo Tabloid or magazine
Iborama a display of a wide range of Ibo artefacts,culture etc also Iboramic

Premier Brewery Onitsha To Start Production In 2015 – Chairman

Agency Report
— Dec 30, 2014 | 0 Comments

The Chairman, Board of Directors, Premier Breweries Plc, Onitsha, Prince Arthur Eze said on Tuesday that the company would commence full stream production of beer in the first quarter of 2015.

Eze said this while addressing shareholders of the company during the 2014 annual general meeting of the company for the year ended March, 2014, held in Enugu.

He noted that with the assurances of the company’s technical partners and the level of re-engineering so far achieved, the company would resume its leading role in the beer production industry in the country.

“New boilers have been installed and tested while the old ones are being repaired to serve as standby facility. A new Ammonia cooling system has been installed along with new compressor.

“A new glycol cooling system has been installed with stainless pipes while the room cooling system that is now in place is changed from ammonia to Freon to minimise hazardous leaks in the factory,’’ he said.

The chairman said that electricity supply had been stabilised with the installation of a 500KVA generator while water supply was already in place from which the company produces the table water that was already in the market.

Eze explained that with about N1 billion share capital, the company settled a monthly electricity bill of N1 million and a salary bill of N3.4 million.

He assured the shareholders of better days ahead and commended them for their patience and understanding during the turbulence the company experienced.

Some of the shareholders commended the board members for their efforts to revamp the company. (NAN)

http://leadership.ng/news/398644/premier-brewery-onitsha-start-production-2015-chairman

[i][/i]Thank you @ rarediamonds for keeping it going. God bless you.

It is high time we think home so as not to regret the consequences later on. Just don't know what will happen to all those people that have finished their 5-6 storey buildings in Sabon Gari Kano as the elections draw near.

@ RareDiamond
You have sustained this thread alone and I want to salute you for your courage.

Shacman trucks off ANAMMCO plant tomorrow
January 14, 2015 | Filed under: Executive Motoring | Author: MIKE OCHONMA

3
A new chapter in the annals of Nigeria’s automotive history will be opened tomorrow when Transit Support Services Limited (TSSL), a subsidiary of ABC Transport plc, in partnership with Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company Limited (ANAMMCO), officially roll out Shacman trucks from the (ANAMMCO) plant in Emene Industrial Layout, Enugu.

Resuscitation of ANAMMCO factory by Transit Support Services Limited is in response to the new national automotive policy, and the need to grow domestic automobile capacity and generate employment opportunities in Nigeria.

The groundbreaking event which is expected to attract a large number of high profile government functionaries, industrialists and technocrats will have Olusegun Aganga, Nigeria’s industry, trade and investment minister, as the special guest of honour.

Shacman is a brand of the Shaanxi Automobile Group Co. Ltd. China, which has over 45 years of manufacturing experience and remains one of the leading automobile manufacturers in China.

The truck makers produced the first heavy duty military off-road truck in 1968 and have since inception manufactured over 600,000 vehicles of different varieties, making great contribution to China national defence construction, developing the national economy and adding value to the entire Chinese society.

Over four decades, Shacman has evolved into one of China’s domestic large-scale automobile enterprise group with over 33,000 employees and is ranked 24 among Chinese top 500 mechanical enterprises.

Shacman also engages mainly in development, manufacture and sales of off-road vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, medium-duty, large and medium-sized coaches, medium and light-duty trucks, minivan, new energy vehicles, heavy-duty axles, light axles, Cummins engines and automobile components, etc.
The company also manufactures brands like Shacman, Eurostar, Huashan, Fujia and etc., and has also won series of awards in China.

On the other hand, TSSL, established in 2007 in Nigeria, has been behind the success of notable transport operators in the whole of Africa sub-region and is continuously researching for best solutions to enhance cost efficient services in transport and logistics operations.

Company sources say TSSL management is dedicated to providing the latest materials, services and technology to the automobile industry through its associates worldwide. TSSL selects and offers to its numerous customers, the latest solution for efficient fleet operation in the area of safe haulage handling and also provides tyre sales and services to the Industry.

While Sullivan Chime, the executive governor of Enugu State, will play chief host, other dignitaries expected at the event include the Aminu Jalal, director general, National Automotive Council (NAC); and Wang Gang, managing director, Shacman Group, Shaanxi, China.

Others include Frank Jacobs, president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) as the chairman of the occasion and G. U. Okeke, chairman of ANAMMCO.



MIKE OCHONMA

http://businessdayonline.com/2015/01/shacman-trucks-off-anammco-plant-tomorrow/#.VLaVoCvF_gc

CaptainOjemba:
[i][/i]Thank you @ rarediamonds for keeping it going. God bless you.

Thanks bro !!! If we don't promote ourselves, who will ?

omonnakoda:
Ibo ; a state of being Ibo
Iboland Ibo Territory
Iboman an adult Ibo male
Iboboy a young Ibo person(male) Ibogirl Ayoung Ibo person (female)
Iboville A small part of Iboland like Awoamama e.g,
Iboness General Ibo condition
Iboist an Ibo Advocate or champion e,g Achebe Iboism Ibo advocacy
Ibotic Distinctly Ibo Iboistic =Ibotic
Iboing To make Ibo Iboed Now fully Ibo
Ibo-made crafted by Ibos
Ibonize Transform to Iboness usually of a place or people Ibonization See Ibonize Ibonizational see Ibonize
Iborific scarily Ibo
Ibofy To make Ibo Ibofied Ibofying Ibofier Ibofication see Ibofy
Ibothetic Ibo kind (of logic)
Iboology The study of Ibos and Ibo Things
Ibologue one versed or knowledgeable in Ibo affairs,history,culture etc
Iboologist=An Ibo expert
Ibohood State of being Ibo also place where Ibos are found in large numbers or hang out
Ibolly In an Ibo way
Iboward moving in the direction of an Ibo or approaching Iboness
Ibolitics Ibo kind of politics
Ibolution In the process of becoming Ibofied
Ibodom an old Ibo kingdom
Ibometer Ibometric Measure of Iboness
Ibotechnic An Ibo institute of learning
Ibocentric Focussed only on Ibos and Ibo matters
Iboteria Place where Ibo snacks are sold see Akputeria
Ibomart Ibo market or mall
Ibonalysis = Applied or advanced Ibo logic
Ibonet = Ibo websites Ibo Blogs etc
Ibowood= Ibo movies and actors generallly
Ibonomics = Ibo economic activity
Ibophile Ibo lover or lover of Ibo Things Ibophilia The condition of an Ibophile Ibophilic
Ibophobe Ibo hater Ibophobia Ibophobic Ibophrenia(offensive see specialized texts)
Iborize to destroy by Ibo methods Iborization
Ibomatic having an Ibo flavour
Ibolify To Imbue with Iboness Ibolifying
Ibolyse To alter chemically through Ibo technology Ibolysing Ibolyzation.etc
Ibozine an Ibo Tabloid or magazine
Iborama a display of a wide range of Ibo artefacts,culture etc also Iboramic

Can you keep this your Ibo thing away from here, we are Igbo not Ibo. I wonder how grown ups keep using derogatory name for their ethnic group.

CaptainOjemba:
Can you keep this your Ibo thing away from here, we are Igbo not Ibo. I wonder how grown ups keep using derogatory name for their ethnic group.

hahahahaha

CaptainOjemba:
Can you keep this your Ibo thing away from here, we are Igbo not Ibo. I wonder how grown ups keep using derogatory name for their ethnic group.

Are you an IBOLOGUE When the renowned IBOPHILE Chinua Achebe used Ibo on what basis do you challenge him?

3dankey:
It is high time we think home so as not to regret the consequences later on. Just don't know what will happen to all those people that have finished their 5-6 storey buildings in Sabon Gari Kano as the elections draw near.

@ RareDiamond
You have sustained this thread alone and I want to salute you for your courage.

Thanks for your encouragement. People who choose to take such risk as to invest big in the north despite several advise does so at their own risks.

omonnakoda:
Are you an IBOLOGUE When the renowned IBOPHILE Chinua Achebe used Ibo on what basis do you challenge him?

If you read his books, the last I read was There was a country, he write Igbo (Ibo) he explained that is a corruption Igbo. No Proper Igbo man will except that Ibo thing. We are Ndi Igbo .

CaptainOjemba:
If you read his books, the last I read was There was a country, he write Igbo (Ibo) he explained that is a corruption Igbo. No Proper Igbo man will except that Ibo thing. We are Ndi Igbo .

I think it is an unnecessary and misguided storm based o ignorance of orthography.

The Ibo alphabet is not the same as the English alphabet which is not the same thing as the Yoruba alphabet even though they use similar symbols the symbols do not mean the same thing
In English g and b are separate alphabets. This is also the same thing in Yoruba and Ibo. The Yoruba language also has an addititional alphabet gb This is a DISTINCT alphabet. The Ibo language in Ib cartography also has a gb alphabet. It is NOT the same as the Yoruba gb has a different sound and when rendered in the word; Igbo has a different meaning in Ibo from Yoruba. So what is the position in English there is no gb alphabet nether the Ibo or the Yoruba variant and so the English language has come to several compromises Eboe Ibo or Igbo none of which is satisfactory from the English language perspective. So if you are writing in Ibo then Igbo would be appropriate if you ae writing in English Igbo or Ibo are both correct aceptable but pose problems for other who have gb in their orthography Igbo to the Yoruba writer means bush or Cannabis. To take away this facility from Yorubas or to seek to appropriate the exclusive use of "Igbo" won't fly . In English language we say

French Francais
Spanish Espanole
Italian Italiano
German Deustch
Japanese Nihonjin/ Nipponjin
Ibo Igbo

A simple example is the word "JESUS" this is an anglicized form the NATIVE form is Yehoshua/Yeshua


one is an English word and the other is not
etc so I do not get the controversy

Kindly ignore the mischievous bigot above. I don't know why people behave as goats sometimes

Posted by FRIDAY.IDACHABA on January 20, 2015

World Bank commits N33.6bn to Fadama III in Nigeria

NAN-AE-4
FADAMA
Lokoja, Jan. 20, 2015 (NAN) The World Bank said on Tuesday that it had earmarked $200 million or N33.6 billion for the implementation of FADAMA 111 projects in six states of the country.

Dr Abimbola Adubi, the bank’s Task Leader on 2nd Joint World Bank/FGN Supervision Mission on the Implementation of FADAMA III Additional Financing Project to Kogi, disclosed this during a visit to Gov. Idris Wada in Lokoja.

Adubi said the bank had created six zones comprising Kogi, Lagos, Niger, Enugu, Anambra and Kano states for the implementation of the FADAMA III projects.

He said the states would be supported with $200 million or N33.6 billion.

Adubi said the bank was of the belief that development could be achieved through agriculture and was therefore committed to critical monitoring and evaluation of the success of the projects in the country.

The Team Leader commended Kogi Government and farmers in the state for their commitment to the project.

He said that the visit to the state was aimed at monitoring, evaluating and reviewing the implementation processes as well as identifies progress made so far and the challenges.

He said the bank want to make agriculture a business, adding that the key areas of production of the FADAMA III included cassava, rice, sorghum tomatoes and horticulture.

Adubi explained that for effective disbursement of the fund, the benefiting states must sign and return the financing agreement form through the Federal Government for onward submission to the bank.

Responding, Gov. Idris Wada assured the World Bank team that the state would continue to create the enabling environment for easy access to essential farm inputs and equipment such as fertilisers, agro-chemical and tractor services.

Wada, who was represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the state had cumulatively paid N160 million as counterpart contribution for implementation of the FADAMA III project.

He said the state also released N56.35 million as 2014 counterpart fund for effective take-off of Additional Financing.

He appealed to the World Bank and other donor agencies to partner the state in its Youth Empowerment Programme, known as’’ YAD4Kogi,’’

The governor said that the programme was aimed at creating employment for the unemployed under the state Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

In his contribution, the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Zacchaeus Atteh, said the state did “excellently well” under the closed FADAMA III project, adding that the intervention covered the provision of community infrastructure.

Atteh said that a total of 11,868 farmers including 3,370 women farmers were captured to participate in the Alape Staple Crop Processing Zone in cassava production. (NAN)

http://www.nannewsnigeria.com/node/27830

Total Completes Gas Pipeline to Alaoji Power Plant

French multinational exploration and production company, Total, today announced that it has completed work in its facility that transports gas to the 500 million dollar Alaoji power plant in Abia state, South east Nigeria. The commencement of transportation of gas to this plant will help resuscitate the plant which has since been completed in 2013. The Managing Director of Total E&P Nigeria, Elisabeth Proust, commenting on the development, stated that the project was a clear demonstration of the company’s commitment to deliver “better energy”. Alaoji Power plant Alaoji Power plant is located along the Imo River in Abia state. The power plant covers nine Local Government Areas in Abia state referred to as Aba/Ariaria Business District. Former President of the West African country, Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration gave the concession for the construction of the plant to a private power construction giant, Geometric Company Limited, with funds needed for the project raised from financial institutions. The project carried out with the help of some technical partners was completed in 2013. Power Plants Plans in Nigeria In the government’s effort to ensure quick supply of gas to the newly built power plants in Nigeria, the federal government asked Total E&P Nigeria (TEPNG) to complete a section of The Northern Option Pipeline (NOPL) from Km 38 to Km 50. This NOPL connects to Nigeria gas company (NGC) facilities. The project, which is being executed in a joint venture between Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and TEPNG is expected to be completed this year. It will deliver about 100 million cubic feet of gas daily to strategic power plants. However, TEPNG noted that the gas being supplied to Alaoji during this period will come from Seven Energy, while NGC will convey the gas through its pipeline and the section of TEPNG NOPL. The completion of the work will boost the federal government’s efforts at improving electric power supply in the country, with the plant expected to generate 1000Megawatts of electricity.

http://www.ventures-africa.com/2015/01/total-completes-gas-pipeline-for-1000mw-power-plant-in-nigeria/

Jonathan commissions N18bn Aba Brewery

Posted on Wednesday, 28 January 2015.

President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned the N18 billion expanded and upgraded plant of the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, Aba.

Speaking before commissioning the new plant, the President commended Governor Theodore Orji for providing the enabling environment and infrastructure for businesses to thrive in Abia State.

He also commended the NB Plc for staying in Aba since 1946 and contributing to the economy of the country.

The President who spoke through the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said the event shows NB Plc’s belief in Nigeria and that the administration is prepared to take the country into the future.

According to him, the expansion of the brewery which doubles the capacity of NBL plant to about 2.4 million hector litres is a milestone investment.

He noted that NBL supports about 279,000 jobs directly and indirectly in Nigeria out of which about 85,000 jobs are attributable to the company’s production and local procurement activities.

According to him, the company also sources close to 100 per cent of its packaging needs in Nigeria and 50 per cent of raw materials from Nigeria working closely with Nigerian farmers.

He disclosed that through the Nigerian Industrial Revolution plan anchored on manufacturing sector, cement production in the country has been improved from 16.9 m metric tons to 35.9 m metric tons annually and now exports cement.

In his speech, Governor Orji maintained that the expansion of the Aba brewery is a clear testimony of partnership between government and the private sector, adding that government’s responsibility is to provide the enabling environment for investors.

He stated that his greatest achievement in the state is security and thanked NBL for the investment in Aba which he said would boost commerce and trade in the city.

Ealier in their separate remarks, the chairman, NB Plc, Chief Kola Jamodu and the Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Mr. Nico Vervelde who said the expansion of the brewery started in 2012 and completed in 2014 makes the Aba brewery the most modern in the country and appreciated President Jonathan and Abia Governor, Chief Orji for their support towards the success story of the company.

http://thecityreporters.com/jonathan-commissions-n18bn-aba-brewery-commends-gov-orjis-efforts/

Nigerian Aba Mega Mall Set for Commissioning

Posted on 28 January 2015.

The first phase of the N300 billion Nigerian Naira (approximately R18 billion) Aba Mega Mall project, expected is set to be commissioned, The Guardian reports.

Once completed the project, which sits on 28 hectares land, will consist of 5 830 ultramodern shops, in four sizes of 12sq meters, 16sq meters, 24sq meters and 48sq meters.

According a statement made available to The Guardian, the facility will also have provision for banks, security post; 25 000sq meters climate-controlled warehouse space, restaurants, entertainment centres with six cinema screens, children play area and a massive parking space for over 5 000 cars.

The South East Amalgamated Traders Association (SEAMATA), an umbrella body of traders in the South-East region of the country, has endorsed the project, which they described as laudable.

Consequently, they have urged members across the country, to support the project, which has been described as good for the south-East region, as it would be providing the needed infrastructure, to ensure that the region regains its place in commerce in Africa.
Biggest mall on the continent

Group Managing Director, Geenfield Assets Limited, Paul Obanua, promoters of the mall, while playing host to Governor Theodore Orji on a pre-commissioning inspection tour of the facility, explained that the mall on completion would be the first mall with a dry port in Nigeria and Africa as well as the biggest mall in the continent.

The dry port according to Obanua, is going be a 30 000 square meter bonded warehouse, which affords people of the South-East the opportunity of getting their goods in, on time, thereby avoiding wastages arising from port congestion at various sea ports.

“We are going to also offer good storage facilities-automated climate controlled facility. So this mall is going to be a one-stop-shop. And by the second phase, you are going to have a 100-room hotel come up here at the Aba Maga Mall.

“So, we are going to have a section that will be called the Aba Business Resort, so that you have your events here, like conferences and when you are in the South-East, you can also lodge in and do your business.

Obanua, who was impressed with response from the business community, revealed that the price of the facility has gone up, due to demand pressure.

-The Guardian Newspaper

http://www.infrastructurene.ws/2015/01/28/nigerian-mega-mall-set-for-commissioning/

Keep it coming Rarediamonds, imela onye eze.

Anambra State Launches 500 Mega Watts Electricity Initiative

Raymond Ozoji in Awka examines the bold move by the Willie Obiano’s administration to accomplish its industrialisation based 4-point Agenda through power generation

It need not be over-emphasized that constant as well as regular electricity supply is the major driving force of industrialization and technological advancement the world over. Countries all over the world thrive in socio-economic activities due to huge investments in the power sector in order to create the enabling environment for economic activities to take shape. Trade and commerce, which are integral aspects of rapid industrialization, will not thrive if social amenities like electricity are erratic and epileptic. The role of energy in industrialization cannot be overstated . This is why the Nigerian government has also tried through various power sector reforms to stabilise the energy sector but some of the efforts made in this regard are yet to meet the expectations of Nigerians. Even so various state governments have taken up the central government’s liberalization policy of the power sector to launch their power projects to create the enabling environment in their respective states to boost industrialization as well as foster healthy competition in trade and commerce.

Anambra State is one of such governments that is initiating industrial revolution through the realization of 500 Mega Watts of Electricity in line with the policy on industrialization of the Governor Willie Obiano led administration. The move is being planned to actualize the government’s 4-point agenda in the areas of agriculture, trade and commerce, oil and gas as well as industrialization. Part of the government’s plan to tackle epileptic power supply in the state is to make Anambra State the industrial hub of the entire south-east and beyond. This decision saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with FALCON Corporation Limited recently at the Governor’s Lodge Amawbia Awka Anambra State. Falcon Corporation Limited is an organization with expertise in gas distribution and supply.

Governor Obiano while performing the ground-breaking ceremony which is the first of its kind since the creation of the state many years ago , explained how the partnership with Falcon Corporation Limited would be beneficial to the government and people of Anambra State. He further explained that the signing of the MoU on alternative power generation was for the industries in the state to have adequate as well as uninterrupted power supply, adding that the state requires about 320 Mega Watts of electricity to guarantee industrialization but currently gets only about 90 mega watts. According to him , the enablement from Falcon Corporation Limited will assist Anambra State in powering all her activities without interruptions. He said “we equally have other options to revamp ailing power projects inherited from my predecessor” and stressed that efforts were being intensified to guarantee more energy in Anambra State to power identified industrial clusters which in the long run would lead to the drastic reduction cost of production in the state. He pledged to work round the clock to ensure that the project come on stream as soon as possible for the benefit of Ndi-Anambra .

The signing of the MoU on alternative power generation was for the industries in the state to have adequate as well as uninterrupted power supply, adding that the state requires about 320 Mega Watts of electricity to guarantee industrialization

Responding, Prof. Joe Ezigbo, the CEO of FALCON Corporation Limited , praised Governor Obiano on the initiativeto revamp the power sector in Anambra State, stating that 12 years ago when the corporation came to the state to carry out power initiative which led to his interaction with past administrations, none patronized the company except Governor Obiano. Delving into the company’s past to buttress his argument, Prof. Ezigbo further disclosed that Falcon Corporation Limited pioneered gas distribution in the country for two years, starting at Agbara and Ota in Ogun State after which Shell Nigeria followed suite. He said the company at present has about 50 kilometre 10 inch gas pipeline distributing natural gas to all the industries in Ikorodu industrial layout in Lagos State . He boasted that the corporation would replicate its achievements in Anambra State, which could make it become the Tiger of West Africa as well as the fulcrum upon which industrialization for the entire West African sub-region could start and expand, considering that Anambra State occupies a strategic position within Nigeria as a gateway for the explosion of industries.

Prof. Ezigbo however assured Governor Willie Obiano that the partnership with Falcon Corporation Limited will be fruitful as the corporation plans to bring gas to Nnewi, Oba, Obosi, Nkpor as well as other locations across the state where there are clusters of industries to reduce cost of production, increase capacity, increase employment opportunities for Anambra people. For the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Oil and Gas, Mrs. Ngozi Okoye the implementation of the gas distribution project would bring a massive turn-around in the industrialization in Anambra State. Mrs. Okoye who noted that gas was the new source of energy, maintained that the gas distribution project was a laudable initiative and that Governor Obiano deserved the cooperation and support of all and sundry to make the project a reality.

http://theunion.com.ng/anambra-launches-500-mega-watts-electricity-initiative/

CaptainOjemba:
Keep it coming Rarediamonds, imela onye eze.

Yea bro !!! I will keep the good news coming

Forbes Billionaire, Orji Kalu, Set to Launch Hotel Chain
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By Our Reporter on February 5, 2015 Business

Founder of Slok Group and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, is expanding his busi­ness empire into hospitality. Kalu, who was recently rated by Forbes as the fourth richest Nigerian and one of the 50 richest Africans, is said to be working tirelessly to en­sure the boutique hotels are completed on schedule.

The brand named Sun Heavens Hotels and Resort with the motto: “Try our heaven, feel the difference” is of international standard.

The hotel chain is being managed by a seasoned ex­pert from Turkey, Ms. Elis Seval, among other award-winning professionals in the hospitality industry.

According to Seval, the target market will include business visitors and tourists who appreciate topnotch hos­pitality services.

Daily Sun learnt that the Victoria Island facility billed for inauguration at the end of this month will attract celebrities, top business ex­ecutives, professionals and diplomats.

Other locations including Lekki, Ikoyi, Asokoro, Gudu, Umuahia and Enugu will be completed soon.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=103370

Enugu Airport: State Tasks Aviation Firm On Cargo Equipment

Posted by admin on Feb 2nd, 2015 and filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

The Enugu State Government has appealed to the National Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) to provide cargo handling equipment at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport for the export of agricultural produce.
The state’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Jude Akubuilo, made the appeal in Enugu on Wednesday at an interactive session with students of the Armed Forces Command College, Senior Course 37, who were on a tour of the state.
Akubuilo said the equipment would ease the evacuation of fresh agricultural produce and create job opportunities for youths in the state.
He lamented that efforts by the state government to collaborate with the company to provide the equipment to create market for the farmers in the state had failed.
He also called on the Federal Government to approve the establishment of a free trade zone in the South East zone.
“We are losing money. We appeal to NAHCO to help us provide the cargo equipment so that we can transit out of oil and invest more in agriculture,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Mike Eneh, said the state had created a value chain approach targeted at making every small scale farmer a commercial one.
He said the state had invested more than N5 billion on rice production and gotten more than N1.488 billion on the sale of poultry products.
He listed some challenges stalling the development of agriculture in the state to include bureaucracy, sabotage and difficulty to extend support to farmers.
“We do not want isolated projects that cannot be delivered. We want to project agriculture as a business in Enugu State,’’ he said.
Eneh said the state had commenced the export of pineapples to other countries of the world.
The Team Leader of the college, Cmdr. Obi Ofodile, said the visit was in line with the course curriculum.
He said that the team would visit states and the theme for this year was ‘exploring agricultural potentials of Enugu State for socio-economic development’.
He said the students were in Enugu for on-the -spot assessment and that whatever their findings would reflect on their reports, which would include solutions to help the state develop its agriculture.
Ofodile expressed happiness with the improvement in agriculture in the state.
“I think the state is trying a lot in agriculture. If you have seen what is happening to our oil, it is imperative for states to promote agriculture,’’ Ofodile said.
Some of the students from Ghana and Togo called for improved budgetary allocation to agriculture to augment the fall in oil price.
The group also paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State.

http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2015/02/02/enugu-airport-state-tasks-aviation-firm-on-cargo-equipment/