₦airaland Forum

(NOT) Doing Business in Nigeria


February 5, 2015

In August of 2011, I was contacted by the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and begged to come to Nigeria. He had just come from visiting our sister company in East Africa. He was very convincing. I along with another Board member soon arrived in Lagos to a great fanfare of private planes, helicopters, and fancy hotels. We were promised the world, if only we would come to Nigeria to build another Dominion Farms.

The 30,000 hectares of land offered by the Government looked great for farm development, located right between two rivers. Abundant water, the promise of a paved road, low interest government loans, streamlined import procedures, and help directly from the President himself. It was all "too-good-to-be-true". We said we would consider it, and we did. Our first trips were to the community, the State Government, and to Upper Benue River Authority. In the community I personally spoke at every church open in the town and at the Mosque. Additionally, we held town hall meetings sponsored by the Emir for everyone in the area. Next we went to the State where I addressed the legislature and held press conferences. Lastly we went to Yola and spent a half of a day with the Upper Benue River Authority executives. In Abuja we had extensive meetings with the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Water, the ports and customs office and the US Embassy. All agencies offered their firm support for the project. Several trips later we made the decision to proceed.

On 17 February 2012 in the Abuja Hilton Hotel we signed an "MOU" with the State of Taraba and the Government of Nigeria. Hundreds were in attendance inviting us to come to Taraba and begin. Some of the terms of the agreement included Dominion training in modern agriculture for the masses, the State of Taraba paying all compensation to anyone on the land, and for a new road to be constructed. Ninety percent (90%) of the land was to be utilized in a community farming operation with trained local people being in possession of these lands and the remaining ten percent (10%) used as a nucleus farm for training purposes and support. The following day Dominion in conjunction with Taraba State paid for 50 local Nigerians to go to East Africa for six months of training.

What was supposed to happen in six months is still in the process over 3 1/2 years later. It has been a calamity of failed promises. The Government contracted for provision of a new all-weather road however, it is still a dirt trail as the Government funding did not exist. The promised financing from both the State of Taraba and the Government of Nigeria was all talk but no money. Help from the President came in the form of a waiver for all duty on Agricultural equipment for everyone in the Nation, not just us. Treasury and Customs quickly hid the waiver and hid it in their "Secret Files". We fought for a year to get the promised exemptions and only after tape recording the direct demands for bribes from high officials in the Treasury did we even find out about the "Secret File". The Treasury attempted direct extortion from our manager and he recorded it and gave the copy to the highest law enforcement agency in the land but the culprits scoff at us with impunity. Government officials asked us to just forget the whole thing and pretend it did not happen. That was two years ago and nobody has been prosecuted to date. In every facet of Nigerian society money does all of the talking, corruption reigns supreme, and nothing moves without dirty money to grease the way.

The land leased to us was and now still is partially occupied by Upper Benue. They have no lease nor is it in their mandate to occupy land, only to control the rivers. A broken down water treatment plant and many unoccupied homes and buildings came with the project. These were all master planned to be immediately converted into a training school with dorms, classrooms, and sports fields, but as we arrived Upper Benue changed their minds and refused to leave. Pleas to the Government brought little relief and finally they recommended we just build new facilities, but we had not budgeted for this. The State and Federal money promised for financing the project were just not there so finally TY Danjuma, a very influential and wealthy person from Taraba State came along and requested to be part of the project. The Danjuma Foundation committed to constructing a new school and that sealed the deal. Dominion partnered with TY.

As our equipment arrived at the ports, bribes were demanded. The clearing agents added "extras" to our billings and when we demanded to know what these were there was no response. We would not be part of their corruption. We eventually changed clearing agents and it helped for a while but it always came back to a hold-up about something. New rules were put into place as we attempted to bring in 120 shipments of supposedly exempt tractors, rice mills, and the like. The agents ignored the President's directive. The Minister of Agriculture tried to intervene many times but to little or no avail. In the end we paid massive amounts of duty not budgeted for, but NOT ONE BRIBE! Delays added up so much demurrage that finally it was necessary to quit the fight.

We have totally experienced Nigeria. I have been extorted, arrested, detained, lied to, and about anything else one can imagine. We have held to our convictions, not paid bribes, obeyed the law, and kept our dignity, with our frustration levels continuing to rise on every occasion. Nonetheless, we have plodded on through years of delays, because we will not compromise our standards. It has cost us dearly in both interest and in valuable time. We have battled to import around 120 loads of equipment. Virtually everything is finally there for the making of a fantastic farm but it is years late in getting there. Every shipment was a struggle and a shakedown.

We began construction on the site including flood protection dikes, 12 small homes, a maintenance building and the beginnings of a rice mill. We started clearing lands and our relations with the community were good. Upper Benue still occupied the buildings but they had left the land. We were finally about ready to plant crops at the end of 2013 with the State of Taraba promising to pay compensation as was their contracted duty to do when things suddenly changed.

Shortly after we arrived in Taraba, the then Governor Danbaba Suntai made a serious mistake when he ordered the pilots off his plane and decided he would fly it himself. Of course he crashed and nearly killed himself and others on board. First they said he was dead but somehow revived him again but the time with no oxygen left him with serious mental problems. We now had an acting governor, Umar that was trying to fulfil his role but TY did not respect his position. The fight ensued and our road building stopped, the compensation from the state did not get paid and we sat still again. A cabal was formed to try and place the ailing governor back into his office. This was supported by my partner TY so here Dominion sat in the middle of a political war. Then the bomb dropped! An old consultant to Governor Suntai and some of his aids decided they needed to be back in control so they came to TY and fabricated a story of how Upper Benue and Dominion were having extreme difficulties and that the Federal Government had to pay the compensation. They took this to TY who evidently summoned the President to his house and passed on the fabricated story. Mr. President called the Minister of Water on the carpet. The Minister then called Upper Benue, and Upper Benue got mad. They felt Dominion had double crossed them, and now our good spirit of co-operation was gone and they decided to occupy the land. The State got involved along with the Minister of Agriculture and State legal counsel. In effect we have no land to occupy so no farming has been done and none will be. Two sections of Government lay claim to the land we were allocated and the battle goes on. The President gave a directive through the Minister of Water that Upper Benue vacate the premises completely and let Dominion operate unhindered. It is yet to be complied with ten (10) months after the order was issued! This was our main condition for opting to resume work rather than walk away from the project.

Boko Haram is a subject of its own. This group wants an Islamic State with no education for women, and only Islamic studies for men. They kill thousands and the government can seemingly do little or nothing to intervene. They kidnap hundreds of young girls at one time and the army can't find them. Kidnapping of foreign nationals is part of how they finance their operations, and many expats just end up dead. Boko Haram has formed a caliphate like ISIS in Iraq and is already capturing multiple cities in Northern Nigeria. In Taraba State the Muslim Fulani tribe of nomadic people has taken up a war with the TIV and Jukun tribes of Christian and Animist people. These groups kill each other weekly and between them all, thousands have been killed or driven from their homes. Their domain is moving closer to us. It used to be three hundred kilometers away from us, then two hundred, and now it is just next door.

Meanwhile, Dominion has six policemen protecting the equipment on what is supposedly our land which is occupied by everyone but us. Around 1,000 hectares were cleared in March of 2014, by Dominion in readiness for planting by Dominion. Instead Upper Benue, in conjunction with the local community, moved in and planted their crops! There seems be no let up as everyone is ready to go back to the same land in the next cropping season!

Dominion is caught with no way forward. I now must have heavily armed police protection with me for safety at all times and this is no way to run an operation. Our operations manager and his family have been moved away from the location for their own protection.

The final blow came with an article by the Times of London. It is obvious they put a lot of work into this story in order to make Dominion a villain of some sort. Dominion has been accused of taking land, displacing people, and using dangerous chemicals, when in fact not one of the accusations is remotely true. Dominion was not aware of the presence of the reporters even though the journalist had to pass right in front of our offices and operational area at the farm site with Upper Benue and the locals the day they visited the site. No one deemed it fit to hear or ask side of the story, nor were we given adequate time to respond to the many allegations outlined in the article. The images in the article are a true representation of the lack of current farming activity with not a single home on the ground. This appropriately describes how we have not occupied anything or displaced anyone. As for journalism this is nothing more than a smear campaign on the Nigerian Government and upon Dominion Rice and Integrated Farms.

Nigeria is in a crisis. In reality it is much easier for an investor to leave Nigeria than to come and invest in such a stressful climate. Environmental Rights Action (ERA) / Friends of the Earth Nigeria (FOEN) and Center of Environment Education and Development (CEED) all boast of your decision to support the communities affected by Dominion. It is now your obligation to do so. The people of Nigeria need massive support and huge investments. These precious people lack desperately for every need of life. What will you do for them when their children are hungry, and there is nobody to turn to? Please take up the challenge and invest the billions of Naira necessary to change these lives. Dominion will no longer be in your way.

Sincerely,

Calvin Burgess, Chairman
Dominion Rice and Integrated Farms, Ltd.

Please I will like to have the info thank you chukwudumifeanyi@gmail.com

http://samedad.com its community site

chekwas1:
Miteww.... For me to watch nigeria vs niger iI rather pay money and watch under 10 in my street.... Nonsense super eagles!!!!!

Yet you are here!

nationwide1:
Dividing Nigeria is never the solution to our problem. I wish the leaders can see it with my eyes.


America is larger in size and population than Nigeria, yet they live peacefully. China is larger in size and population than Nigeria, yet they live peacefully.


Our leaders must look for the brain behind agitation for division and put an end to it once and for all. I don't mean by war/victimization. I mean at a round table. For me, what cannot be solved at a table can never be solved through the barrel of the gun.


God bless Nigeria.

Thank you for this assertion, but do you think the president with steps taken already is towing the part of unifying Nigeria

Please If you are using fake windows better don't try it o! Unless you want your system on lock down

chinae:
What is Dangote saying? I don't know Wat is subsidy too and am not a fan of dully.

Statistics shows that Nigeria spend #1.2billion per day on subsidy ib a country of 170million estimate.
Ask: the country pays more than 10 million for one citizen a day, Hw much fuel i dey use for house? if subsidy only is above a million.

This guy is part of the cauci in d caucus

Thank you! Truth I have respect for Dangote having control of so much empire. Having said that his idea of economy is wark in this respect I believe he's speaking for his refinery business not for Nigeria economy. By the way as at last Dangote sugar still imports sugar, yet he's here advocating for local production of sugar.

fitzmayowa:
Very true, this is indeed a genuine concern and the onus lies on PMB to apply the "federal character" thing in all his appointment and not make the government a northern government...IMHO

Sure you will have federal character but not after has strategically positioned his kins at every foundation any ministry. You what that means your ministers will just be figure head. He will even work with "Tinubu's list" if there is anything like that, but Buhari's body language so far says he will render them useless.
In Anyway whatever happens we want to see change, though he is not towing the line of peace

Wow! I don't like this, but it is the hardest truth we can tell ourselves, you might not like the author or his approach but you can't take away anything from is said here.
We will need to take this words and dissect them letter to words and to sentences because there in lies the way forward for igbos. Weather we like this or not, before we even shout Biafra, igbos must have built their base, develop the infrastructure their then we can move to the next level.
I still wonder what the Governor's forum south east stands for when they cannot channel the way forward with thinking in this direction

Imanuelle:
Why would I buy Don Jazzy's stickers?


I'll rather pay someone to develop mine with my face.

While we appreciate Don J's biz acumen, we can also create one for you with your face, you can look down and call any of our numbers. Thank you

adonismuller:
Thieves and devils...with all their money they will still be buried with nothing other than trouser and shirt.


They are scared Buhari won't honor the remaining subsidy payment...they now resorted GEJ pay them in full before leaving office!!! No wonder they paid illiterates and cows to protest when subsidy was removed.

The problem of Nigeria are the Politicians and the Richs!!!!

You just hit right on the head; funny enough will still get back to subsidy removal. Only this time it has to come from those that rejected and protested over it. God bless Nigeria!

babakb:
please this is not funny because my friend confided in me even though he never wanted to share this with anyone but he is now afraid of the unknown consequences, according to him, since he started sleeping with his wife after their marriage she began to have long intervals on her menstrual period, e.g 2 months plus before she sees her period and even if it comes it doesn't flow like before again, and now he needs to be sure that is not because of his big manhood, he told me he needs to apply lubricants before he can manage to even penetrate her.
please this is a serious issue, the wife is 22 yrs and childless for now.
so doctors in the house can a man's big size affect the regular timing of the menstrual period and its blood flow.
thanks for your urgent response as me and my friend follow thread.

I have something to take care of the hormonal imbalance. Please confirm she is not pregnant before she take this. You can contact the number below.

nzeobi:
Let their be justice

What if they eventually discovered there was injustice to the Ibrus, what do you think will happen with bank sold to another bank?

politricks:
This one not remitted, that one not remitted. What will ever be remitted in this country

A lot mystic arrangement in naija!
Is this now the return of Cecilia Ibru to the main stream?

Senate summons CBN, AMCON over Ibru’s
N150bn assets
MARCH 15, 2015 : SUNDAY ABORISADE
3 Comments
The Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics,
Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, has
summoned the management of the Central
Bank of Nigeria and the Asset Management
Company of Nigeria, to appear before it over a
seized asset worth N150bn.
The two federal government agencies seized
the asset, in property and cash, which
belonged to the erstwhile Managing Director
of the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecilia
Ibru, upon her conviction of bank fraud by the
court of law.
A member of the committee, who preferred
anonymity, confirmed to our correspondent
on Sunday that management of CBN and that
of AMCON, amongst others, would appear
before it on Monday to respond to a petition.
The source said the petition alleged certain
irregularities perpetrated in the execution of
the failed bank consolidation.
He added that the Committee is also
interested in the recovery of assets from loan
defaulters and convicted managing directors of
the then Oceanic Bank Plc, Intercontinental
Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Afri Bank Plc and
Bank PHB.
He explained that a correspondence from the
Senate committee to the two federal
government agency specified that the petition
before it alleged that the funds and properties
recovered by the Economic and Financial
Crime Commission were not remitted to the
banks.
Ha also said that the properties and shares
were never advertised for sales nor the
proceeds remitted to either the banks nor
AMCON.
He said, “The letter of invitation by the
committee which was signed by the Chairman,
Senator Victor Lar, said of particular interest
are the assets of Cecilia Ibru under the plea
bargain with the EFCC which was alleged to
have never been accounted for.”
The former MD was convicted of bank and
securities fraud by a federal high court judge
presided over by Justice Dan Abutuin in Ikoyi,
Lagos.
She forfeited two aircrafts worth $100m,
properties in Dubai, South Africa, London and
abridged shares In listed Nigerian Companies.
The committee investigative hearing which is
billed to take place on Monday, at the hearing
Room 438, also summoned the Managing
Director of Ecobank Plc, formerly Oceanic
bank, to come along with statements of
account from AMCON, NDIC or CBN under the
bank consolidation from 2009 till date.
The MD of Ecobank is expected to also show
proof of transfer of assets/shares/cash from
AMCON to Ecobank plc.
Also expected at the hearing are the Ag.
Director General of the Security and Exchange
Commission, Munir Gwarzo, and the Chairman
of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde.

http:///AN4thT8QwU

castruccio:
I just sent it now.... Did you go to their office? where is your location? They are very freindly

Thanks I got your mail, though I couldn't open it on my phone.
Yes Amen guys are very friendly to be honest, they offered us many informations, but I just got to know they don't recognise group registration which is what we wanted to do.
I stay maryland and we have been to their office at ikorodu road

@castruccio please I need the contacts chukwudumifeanyi@gmail.com. Am having issue with joining AMEN as a group, any help from you

stagger:
Under the GES ewallet scheme, farmers get access to subsidized inputs and seeds which they pay for using the mobile money facility from their phones courtesy of the Cellulant platform.

Now there is a registration window which opens just before the farming season. This is at ward level so you are supposed to register in the ward closest to your farm. After registration, you will get a text informing you to go to a collection centre to pick your inputs.

Now the news all over town is that it has eliminated the fertilizer cartels and the corruption in the system. The rumours are that the corruption has simply metamorphosed and changed format. I won't say more.

Like I said, this is a practical fact finding, do-it-yourself mission to ascertain the true state of affairs. Stay tuned.

Hello sir, I truly enjoyed your posts on that cassava thread, you are more practical, and straight to point hence my decision to follow you. Though my following you was born out of my quest to know who this stager is then I stumbled on this thread.
Please I want to know if the window is still open for this ewallet thank you. You are more of a book!

@ pavore9 I just sent you a mail. Hope to get a reply from you. I will also be interested in the carrot seed, my farm is in south west ofada precisely. Thank you

Farmafric:
Call Farmergiant for free business plan. 08099515923. (quote nairaland) we sell defeathering machines and day old chicks

Please I will be interested in the business plan, and what is the cost of defeathering machine? Thank you

boluwajokosegun:
This is not a quick money making thing but a knowledge based biz. It gives the farmer rest of mind. The place can be kept clean to give little or no offensive smell. You can start small. There are some dairy goats that gives more litters of milk per day than the FULANI cow. We have a proffessior dairy in our team.
I think this year people should do more of team biz. Those who are very good in a particular area should manage the biz while others can invest & have unlimited acess to the biz, ask questions & be inovative.
With team spirit we can learn & move faster. gain assess to loan, penetrate difficult areas, make good profit, reduce initial cost of investment etc.

Please more contribution

Please how much is 10 of those goat 2 male 8 female. Am interested I just sent you a whatapp message

Please am interested you can reach me at chukwudumifeanyi@gmail.com

world1:
God willing I will protest this act by writing a petition against shoprite, we should not descend so low to take everything they bring. These guys can even poison or I sterilised us without knowing.

I don't think there's any need for that boss! All we need to do is provide better alternative to the market, or better still run them out of food stuff section. Yes we can if only we can package our produce well and produce in a conducive environment

ideology:
You have not even noticed that the source is osun defender.

The topic says how??
But His responses are "what"

Nigerian s already know what needs to be done, the challenge is how do we do what needs to be done

For me, he has not said anything, anyone can talk,
In fact, a 7 year old boy can say more -"we will generate 500,000 jobs in 4 years"

Secondly let Buhari speak for himself.
I can categorically say, if not for 2015 Elections, he would not even go near Buhari and have his phone number.
I hope Buhari will persecute Tinubu, Fashola, IBB, Atiku, Obj, Ameachi, Bukola Saraki, Rauf, Rochas etc because we know they have all stolen public funds

Its very obvious, APC has no plan in place.
The only PLAN APC has is how to dislodge PDP from presidency by spreading propaganda and inciting the masses against government.

For a while now, military have been successfully dislodging BH, APC is quite. If they is any news that BH appears stronger, Liar Mohammed will come out to celebrate. Am even surprised, he is not talking about illegal arms deal in SA and quoting NAIRALAND as his source. What a foolish statement …

Its baffling to me that the distinguished prof is saying they will encourage states to create 20,000 jobs, the same states we are trying to take away jobs in their hands. Imagine our over bloated civil service, imagine the amount of time spent in getting things dOne in government office now they want to double the problems.
Federal government under GEJ has that plan in YOUWIN, to create jobs. Do you know that so far 3900 people has been empowered through YOUWIN to create jobs. This programme is so unique it bypassed all huddles. No I.M. Everything is dependent on your ability to convince the panel on what you can do with 10 million naira. You see that's direct money to the entrepreneurs that need it. Not another money to state politicians that will never go straight to the hand of the right people.

A lot of points and counter point here and there. Well am not tell you who to vote, unfortunately it seams most nairalanders did not witness Buhari's reign.
I did as a primary school pupil, Buhari is anti economy, I witnessed soldiers invading traders warehouse then in Aba and auction out their sweats.
Buhari promotes communism which is not healthy for economic growth.
Gej though is building our economy but corruption has remained a bane in his reign. But will I judge Jonathan on that? Now before I answer that I will want to know those nairalanders that has never lied, given egunje to any public officer weather voluntary or coerced. You see its easy to stay one place and shout corruption this corruption that yet you are the same instrument of corrupt Nigeria.
OBJ a farmer used 8 years, the only improvement we can see in Agric sector witnessed only in Otta farm.
We are all aware of billions of dollars spent on road during OBJ's reign those that can testify between OBJ and performs better on roads. Need I say more I am not against any candidate but at times like this you will need to state the record straight.

world1:
My brother, you and I know that this is one of those numerous initiative that design exclusively for the elite farmer and their kids.
The ideal It's a good one but i wonder why everything is coded in this country?

Agric loan today agric fund tomorrow but we the real farmers are not getting the loan not to talk of grants.

Well as for me I will continue to help and expose youth to the secret of making it fast and big in Agri-Business.

YABDI. . . get involved
www.yabdi.org

My brother this is the bane of this nation. The elite using agriculture to form for us, it was this same government that lunched 14 billion naira dry season farming in january this year, yet a water project in Ogun state where you are suppose to have irrigation lacks single water even to wash your hand.
The other day an "honourable" member of the was being interviewed on Channels TV he kept mentioning agriculture, the interviewer pointed out to him that he sounds passionate about but looking at his past 20 years record his business has been in oil and gas, he retorted that agriculture is a social enterprise. Imagine the cliché

jasper7:
Can you list your products and price and not redirecting people to your website. Thanks

Interesting topic you just brought to front burner. Following with keen interest

Hello guys please for those with allocation coming from Lagos indicate so we can start plan immediately. Please this is for those that already have their allocation o! We are looking at taking off from mende maryland. Thank you
No time to waste

So sorry @dytbabe, I was trying to contact you but don't know what happened. Please here is what I want to find out, I learnt earlier that there are over 20 delegate from Lagos. Am now asking since you are from Lagos can we put heads together and plan logistics. Is there existing whatsapp group you can add me in 08189043908 or we create one to move our ministry to the permanent site lol. Thank you