ON THE PATH OF RECOVERY : Dangote to commission N2.5b tomatoes paste factory, seeks policies to check sub-standard foreign products ... MichaelUkpabisBlog

Dangote Group is sets to commission the Dangote Farms’ N2.5 billion tomatoes paste factory in Kadawa, Kura Local Government Area, Kano in the next two weeks.
The Vice President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote said in Kano during the weekend that the factory will employ over 200 Nigerians and impact on over 40, 000 families engaging in tomatoes farming within the area.
During a chat with journalists, he called on the Federal Government to support indigenous manufacturers through cogent policies that can checkmate the influx of sub-standard and out-dated foreign products into the country.
Alhaji Sani Dangote who is also the Chairman of Dangote Farms further stated that with maximum support from Kano State Government and the Federal Government, the firm was ready to expand by 100 per cent in two years time, giving more economic opportunities to tomatoes farmers and the unemployed youths.
He said, “There are about 40,000 families farming in this community and they are all planting Tomatoes that will be processed in the factory. There will be the logistic side in the employment; there will be people who will be supplying things like basket, fertilizer and other needs of the farmers.
“There are other industries that will need the paste. What we are doing here is to package 240 kilos which many industries that need Tomatoes paste are importing from China, Italy and the USA. They no longer need to import because we are producing 100 per cent of what they import and this is made by Nigeria and for Nigerians.
“So, I cannot count the number of people that are going to be directly employed. I know directly, there are over 40, 000 families that are farmers. Secondly, the industry will employ over 200 workers—if we double our capacity that will be more.
“Then, there are other services that are going to be around. I can assure you that in two months time, the value of land around this area will be different because of the factory. What we have done is to work with the farmers to agree with them on the cost of their inputs and what is the and what is the cost net of their delivery to the farm and the factory and we guarantee them a fixed price within the season and that will ensure the farmer is no longer suspicious of the price.
“The only call we are making to the government is to ensure that they should not allow importation of Tomatoes paste because it will kill the ambition of the farmers and our own ambition. So we call on all the stakeholders, from the farmers, the factory, the state and Federal Government to work together and make it a success.
“We pray that we Nigerians will wake up and ensure that it is a success because there is nothing better than empowering your farmers, your own people rather than empowering other countries; and become dependent on their products while we can produce it 100 per cent and even export to other countries. So, I believe that the number of employment is enormous and poverty can only be eradicated by providing jobs and meaningful life to the society.”