The Federal Government is to save N100bn from the concession of 33 silo complexes in 32 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has said.

Adesina stated this during the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between his ministry and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission on the concession of the silos.

The MoC, according to the minister in a statement, was the continuation of the process of synergy with the private sector to manage and operate silo complexes across the country.

He said, “Running and managing these huge infrastructures is extremely expensive. At the current guaranteed minimum price rate, about N100bn will be required by the ministry to stock the silo complexes.

“The government does not have the resources to manage them. We therefore want the private sector to lease the huge storage infrastructures to improve their management, efficiency and profitability.”

He noted that the silo complexes were part of the ministry’s storage infrastructure under the Strategic Grains Reserves.

Adesina said the network of the SGR silo complexes was established to provide immediate food relief in times of emergency, provide appropriate mechanism, guarantee minimum price scheme to make farmers earn remunerative prices for their produce, provide a mechanism for price stabilisation and storage capacity for excess production, and reduce post-harvest losses.

He stated that the 13 of the silo complexes with a total storage capacity of 311,000metric tons were in existence and operational before the present government came on board.

According to him, the remaining 20 complexes were completed by the present administration to bring the total to 33, with a total storage capacity of 1.3million metric tons.

Adesina said the concession would be done in a transparent manner and in partnership with the ICRC in line with the extant regulations.

The Director-General, ICRC, Mr. Aminu Dikko, said the MoC would enable due diligence and diagnostic study of the silo complexes and develop appropriate economic models for Public Private Partnership transactions.

The Director, SGR, Dr. Jide Olumeko, said the signing of the MoC would bring the capacity utilisation of the silos, which is currently less than 10 per cent, to about 100 per cent after the concession.

Olumeko said the memorandum between the ministry and the ICRC would spell out the roles and responsibilities of each party to the MoC towards the actualisation of the proposed concession exercise.

Former Vice-President of the World Bank, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, on Friday lauded the Federal Government’s emphasis on agricultural development in the country.

Ezekwesili told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the focus on agricultural development was doing a lot to empower farmers across the country.

She added that the current emphasis had redirected the focus of more than 60 per cent of the population into agriculture and related businesses.

``I think the emphasis that government is giving to agriculture and agribusiness is very good. I applaud them (officials) for the emphasis on agriculture, agribusiness and enhancing productivity.

``Because, frankly, already we have more than 60 per cent of our citizens in agriculture.

``So, if you want to tackle poverty, go to the sector where the people who are mostly poor are operating, and it’s in agriculture.

``So, you go to that informal sector of agriculture, you provide them with the kind of tools and the kinds of facilities, the extension services, the links to the market, the seeds and inputs, the access to credit.

``The better business environment, all of these add together to improve their productivity, and therefore, will improve their income.

``Because when you enhance the income of the farmers, what it means is that they have more money that they can spend even in offering education to their children.

``So that circle of activities is so important for taking the entire society out of poverty.

``You don’t lift people out of poverty; you give people what they need in order to lift themselves out of poverty.’’

She also urged the government at all levels to make more efforts to boost agricultural development in the country in order to reduce the rate of poverty. (NAN)

tomakint: When he came onboard he met 13 Silo complexes he made it 33 by adding 20 more now the storage has moved from 311,000metric tonnes to 1.3million metric tonnes just within 2 years one wonders how many past administrations gave us the 13 silo complexes and how come Jonathan gave additional 20 and this is the same man they called all sorts of derogatory names Jonathan may eventually be the BEST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY. FACT: HE HAS REVOLUTIONIZED THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Mekusnwa: This same president is building new silos.
This same president is building new rice mills.
This same president is building and commissioning new power plants.
This same president is building new airports and remodelling existing ones.
This same president is building back our railways to life.
This same president is building the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Benin-Ore, Kano-Maidugri, East-west, etc
This same president is building a new 2nd Niger Bridge.
This same president is building new federal universities.
This same president is building new Almajiri schools.

No Grains in Over N140 Billion Silos

Empty grain storage silos despite over N140bn investment

During the late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua administration, a whopping sum of N50 billion was included in the 2009 budget projections of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources for the construction of grain storage silos across the country. By 2010, reports said an additional N96 billion had been released, making a total of N146 billion. At that time it was projected that ongoing silos projects and the construction of new ones in order to bolster food security was meant to raise the national strategic storage capacity to 1 million tonnes.

The original intention was to have the grain storage silos located in different grains producing states, among them Ekiti, Kebbi, Zamfara, Borno, Imo, FCT and Bayelsa States. They were supposed to have 100,000 metric tonnes capacity. Other silos with the storage capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes were to be constructed in Yobe, Bauchi, Osun, Nasarawa, Taraba, Ogun, Anambra, Kogi, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Kano and Katsina States. The silos were meant to store rice, beans, maize, soya beans, millet, wheat, and other food items.

For over 20 years now, government had made plans to build silos in order to boost food security, but the project has always been bungled due to corruption. For instance, a case involving a silos meant to be built in Akwa Ibom had to be taken to an Abuja High Court over an allegation that the cost of its construction had been inflated by over N500 million. Also, in 2010, there were allegations against the Ministry of Agriculture that the sum of N96 billion had been removed from Ecological Funds to fund the silos project, but the grain silos have not been constructed.

.
Three years after its commissioning, the one in Angwan Maigizo, Jama'a Local Government Area, Birnin Gwari in Birnin Gwari LGA and that in Saminaka in Lere LGA have been abandoned. A resident of Angwan Maigizo, one Nuhu Bawa, had complained to our correspondent thus: "No single grain had been stored here since the commissioning in February 2009. The few bags of grains which were lodged for testing during the commissioning have decayed. We want Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa to swing into action by ensuring that work commences at the silos because the problem most farmers in Kaduna State have is lack places to store they excess produce. A lot get wasted along the line. The place that is supposed to help the farmers preserve their food had been taken over by grasses. These well-planned flowers in the premises of the grain silos are now losing shape as the vicinity is gradually becoming infested with snakes."

Just as it is in Bauchi and Kaduna, so is the story of the silos built in many other states. Sunday Trust's checks revealed that the silos in Makurdi, Benue State, store grains far below its capacity. The silos in Lafia, Nasarawa State are still under construction. In Ekiti State, the one constructed along the Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti has been lying there empty, as no activities are taking place at its site.

All attempts made by our reporters to find out what quantities of grains government has at its grains reserve centres across the country did not yield positive results.

Nonybb: I knw Garri would BE included in that STRATEGIC reserve

Mekusnwa: This same president is building new silos.
This same president is building new rice mills.
This same president is building and commissioning new power plants.
This same president is building new airports and remodelling existing ones.
This same president is building back our railways to life.
This same president is building the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Benin-Ore, Kano-Maidugri, East-west, etc
This same president is building a new 2nd Niger Bridge.
This same president is building new federal universities.
This same president is building new Almajiri schools.

Sincere 9gerian: Haters must be going MAD by now. They'll soon be here to tell us how the 33 silos were planned and started by Late Pa Awo in 1820. Or how Aregbe first saw the 33 silos in his dreams before this administration.

Haters must bow to FRESH AIR! Destination 2019.

Sincere 9gerian: Haters must be going MAD by now. They'll soon be here to tell us how the 33 silos were planned and started by Late Pa Awolowo in 1820. Or how Aregbe first saw the 33 silos in his dreams.

Haters must bow to FRESH AIR! Destination 2019.

bjprodint: so u see what am saw?? chief zebudiah

Nonybb: I knw Garri would BE included in that STRATEGIC reserve

Sincere 9gerian: Haters must be going MAD by now. They'll soon be here to tell us how the 33 silos were planned and started by Late Pa Awolowo in 1820. Or how Aregbe first saw the 33 silos in his dreams.

Haters must bow to FRESH AIR! Destination 2019.

plaindealer:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201210210615.html?viewall=1

Gimmick project with empty and worthless silos..

Fresh air ko rotten air ni....


What a thoughtless and misguided adventure..

shiorrrrr

For over 20 years now, government had made plans to
build silos in order to boost food security, but the
project has always been bungled due to corruption. For

eddiebruk: Okay we have heard, but nevertheless, making these things have an Impact in the Economy should be the most paramount thing and not building and abandoning them to rot without adequate use for them. thereby making them become a waste of the Tax Payers money, Good Job though.

awodman:
Bro I think that is why they are concessioning it to private sector for effective management and business oriented mindset

plaindealer:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201210210615.html?viewall=1

Gimmick project with empty and worthless silos..

Fresh air ko rotten air ni....


What a thoughtless and misguided adventure..

shiorrrrr

plaindealer:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201210210615.html?viewall=1

Gimmick project with empty and worthless silos..

Fresh air ko rotten air ni....


What a thoughtless and misguided adventure..

shiorrrrr