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FG Committed To Success Of Private Sector – Osinbajo …Commissions $1.4bn Fertilizer Plant, Other Projects In Rivers
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, said that the Federal Government was unequivocally committed to the success of the private sector.
He made the remarks during the formal release ceremony to discharge the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IEPL) from the five-year monitoring programme of BPE in Eleme, Rivers State.
He said the Federal Government had been focusing on improving significantly the business environment for small and large businesses.
According to him, last year, President Muhammadu Buhari established a Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), whose results are now starting to be felt across the country.
“The kind of economic growth and prosperity that we’re aiming for cannot happen without private capital.
“And that private capital cannot be unlocked without reforming the business environment by removing obstacles and roadblocks to investment and business operations,’’ he said.
Osinbajo noted that it was impossible for government to ever be able to provide all the capital needed to invest in infrastructure, or to catalyse economic activity.
He said that the best government could do was to put energy into acting as a catalyst and support private capital to achieve maximum impact in the economy.
“And this is the entire point of the privatisation programme in the first place – it is about getting government out of the way so that businesses can do what they need to do to create jobs and prosperity.
“I’m glad that we’re here today to see one of the success stories of the Federal Government’s privatisation programme.
“What Indorama is accomplishing today is very much in line with President Buhari’s vision for a country that produces what it consumes and grows what it eats.
“If you had to sum up our vision for the Nigeria’s economy in a few words, this would suffice. Grow what we eat, produce what we consume,” he said.
Osinbajo said the President launched a Presidential Fertilizer Initiative in 2016, to ensure the availability of cheaper fertilizer to farmers, to support agriculture in the production of rice and wheat and other staples.
He said such initiative created significant economic opportunities for companies like IEPL which planned to supply about 360,000MT of Urea to fertilizer blenders.
The acting President said the $1.4billion world-class fertilizer blending plant, would in turn produce NPK fertilizer for the benefit of farmers in the country.
He, however, explained that in 2006, 75 per cent of Eleme Petrochemical Limited’s equity was sold to Indorama Consortium Ltd in 2006 for $225 million while 10 per cent was sold to the NNPC Pension Fund for $30million.
Our source reports that the company was handed over to its new owners on October 26, 2006.
In 2009, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) approved the sale of 7.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent of the remaining government’s 15 per cent reserved equity to the community and staff of the company respectively.
The balance of five per cent equity remained with the BPE onbehalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)
The BPE since the handover in 2006 carried out routine monitoring on the enterprise to ensure that the core investor adhered to and implemented the laid out post-acquisition plan.
In his speech earlier, Chairman of IEPL, Mr Sri Lohia, said the company was amongst few largest fertilizer plants in the world.
Lohia said that with the strength of the plant, Nigeria would be self-sufficient in fertilizer.
The chairman said that the plant apart from enhancing agriculture in the region would offer direct and indirect employment.
Meanwhile, the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has declared that the Federal Government will support every effort to improve the living condition of Nigerians.
Speaking while commissioning the Chokocho-Umuechem-Ozuzu road and Chokocho-Igbo-Etche-Rumuokurushi Inter-Change in Etche Local Government Area, yesterday, Osinbajo lauded Governor Nyseom Wike for embarking on pro-people projects.
He charged leaders to always work for their people, saying, that is the only way that the people can feel the impact of government.
The acting president charged leaders to de-emphasise partisan concerns and work in the interest of their people.
He said: “We must always look for ways to advance the interest of our people. We are greater together than apart. Today is a very happy day. We will always have happy days.
“Here with us to commission the project of the Rivers State Government is Senator Magnus Abe, who is from another party. The Federal Government supports every effort that benefits the people”.
Earlier, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said the two roads were constructed to revive the economy of Etche Local Government Area.
He said that the roads were death traps and completely damaged the economy of the area as they could not take their agricultural products to the market.
He said,“the condition of the two roads to be commissioned today was so bad that the people of Etche could not use them to transport their agricultural products to markets.”
Wike, also commended the realisation of the projects.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has assured the commitment of Rivers State government to workers’s welfare and industrial harmony in Rivers State.
The Sole Administrator gave the assurance after meeting with leadership of organized labour unions at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Ibas reaffirmed government’s policy of prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, stating that all local government employees are not receiving the approved minimum wage.
He disclosed that approval has been given for payment of newly employed staff at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Judiciary, while medical workers in Local Government Areas will now receive correct wages.
Ibas explained that, Government is reviewing implementation challenges of the Contributory Pension Scheme ahead of the July 2025 deadline, adding that Intervention buses have been reintroduced to ease workers’ transportation ,with plans to expand the fleet.
He said specialized leadership training for top civil servants will commence within two weeks, while due consideration is being given to implementing the N32,000 consequential adjustment for pensioners and clearing outstanding gratuities.
Ibas commended Rivers State workers for their dedication to service and called for sustained partnership with labour unions to maintain industrial peace.
“This administration recognizes workers as critical partners in development. We remain committed to addressing your legitimate concerns within available resources,” he stated.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, thanked the Administrator for the steps taken so far with regard to workers welfare while appreciating his disposition towards alleviating the transportation problem faced by workers.
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged continued cooperation towards achieving mutual goals.
The Rivers State Government assured all workers of its unwavering commitment to their welfare and called for continued dedication to service delivery for the collective progress of our dear State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.
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