Full Transcript Of Aliko Dangote’s Speech At Urea Fertilizer

Aliko Dangote, Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, thanks CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, NNPC GMD Mele Kyari, and other major stakeholders for their “support and advice” in the development of the Dangote Fertiliser Plant.

Full transcript of Aliko Dangote’s urea fertilizer speech

• “Your Excellence Mr. President, the Senate president, the right honorable speaker, state governors that are here with us, the deputy secretary general of the United Nations, honorable ministers Please, ladies and gentlemen, please permit me to stand on the existing protocol.
• It is my honor and pleasure to welcome you all to the commissioning of our three million tonne of urea and dunkwater fertilizer plants located at Don Gotti Industries Freeze on Ibeju Lekki, which acquires 500 hectares and costs 2.5 billion dollars.
• We would like to express our immense gratitude to our special guest of honor, His Excellency Mohammadu Bahari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his sustained support and encouragement and for honoring our invitation to come in person to commission the plan despite the existence of his exalted office.
• We are also grateful to our chief host and governor of Lagos, Mr. Babajide, whose administration has actually provided the enabling environment that has made this project possible.
• The commissioning of this fertilizer plant is very historic.
• It marks the official opening of the largest granulated urea plant in Africa and also the second largest in the world.
• The new plant will make Nigeria self-sufficient in fertilizer production with excess capacity to export to other African markets and the rest of the world.
• Our products have already reached African markets and some in the United States, Brazil, India, and Mexico.
• It is an ambitious development.
• It is an ambitious development project that will drastically reduce the level of unemployment and youth relativeness in this country through the generation of direct and indirect employment.
• Nigeria’s agriculture sector has the potential to become the biggest source of income for our nation, providing employment and raw materials for industries. However, low fertilizer usage has been a major reason for low productivity in the sector.
• It is common knowledge that the non-availability of the product in quantity and quality, rather than affordability, is the primary constraint to the use of fertilizer today.
• Our goal is to make fertilizer available in sufficient quantities and quality for our teaming farmers, assuring greater agricultural output.
• To help realize this potential, we are rolling out initiatives that will transform the agricultural sector.
• These include extension services for all small and medium-scale farmers.
• We have also established well-equipped soil testing laboratories to ensure that the appropriate fertilizer blends are applied to specific soil types and all crop types.
• This will boost productivity and enhance output across the nation.
• Democracy fertilizer will partner with the key stakeholders in the industry, including farmers’ associations, mpk blenders, NGO development partners, and state governments across Nigeria who are committed to a sustainable approach to improving soil quality and farm yields.
• Our continuous efforts to innovate, create great value, and invest in Nigeria are born out of our deep belief in the vast economic potential of our dear nation.
• This has also informed our desire to continue with our investment strategy with a focus on driving import substitution, ensuring that our increased local production can achieve self-sufficiency and even export excess production.
• Your Excellence Mr. President, your excellencies Ladies and gentlemen, there is a distinction to be made.
• This ceremony is the culmination of many years of collaboration and partnership with many institutions and individuals, and I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have contributed to making this day possible and also a reality.
• I would especially like to recognize and appreciate the Central Bank of Nigeria and my dear friend, Governor Godwin Emefiele, for their exceptional support and encouragement.
• Under his leadership, the team has extended tremendous support, especially during some very difficult stages, ensuring the attainment of today’s milestone.
• I also appreciate our past ministers.
• The Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, the Honorable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning I must express my gratitude to the honorable minister of industries, trade, and investment for the tremendous cooperation and support we have received from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and their various agencies, especially the Nigerian Port Authority, for their support.
• I must also appreciate the immense cooperation and support we have received from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Mr. Mele, Kerry, is my amiable brother.
• The GMMB is my brother of NPCC, has left no stone unturned to ensure the availability of natural gas, without which this milestone would never have been achieved.
• I would also like to remain grateful for his strong interventions to resolve problems on many critical occasions.
• I would also like to express my deep appreciation to the security agencies, in particular the office of the national security advisor and the Nigerian Navy, for providing a safe and secure environment from the outset of this project.
• I wish to thank in a special way the chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Howell Gambe, for his influential support in giving us security.
• We’ll always remain immensely grateful to the various local and foreign financial institutions, especially our Nigerian banks, for not only investing in us but for the expertise and sensitivity they brought to bear on ensuring the viability and successful execution of this great project.
• Professor Benedict Orama, The president and chairman of the board of Awing Bank deserve our special thanks for their support and advice through all the stages of this venture.
• I commend the traditional rulers, the others, and the leaders of our host community and their people for providing a peaceful and conducive environment.
• We have developed a collaborative partnership with our various stakeholders in the communities to strengthen this mutually rewarding relationship.
• I cannot end this address without recognizing the many years of enthusiastic teamwork, toil, and stretching of the management and staff of Dangote Group for their commitment to high performance. Mr. President, Your Excellency, Mr. President, Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I’m humbled and highly honored by the presence of such eminent leaders gathered here to witness this commissioning.
• I wish to recognize and thank his excellency. Finally, the Senate president, the right honorable speaker of the house of representatives, our esteemed deputy secretary general of the United Nations, our state governors past and present, the Ashwaju of Nigeria, who is here with us, the honorable ministers and members of the diplomatic community, and the health of public agencies are recognized.
• Because it will be difficult to mention everybody’s name, our guest, I am really delighted that you are able, despite the very short notice and the fact that you are tied to shadows, to join us in celebrating yet another Nigerian success story. May God bless you all. Thank you very much.”