We’re not sabotaging nation’s economy, security —Indorama, Notore

RESPECTIVE management of Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals (IEFCL) and Notore Chemical Industries, in separate statements, have denied allegations of involvement in activities which sabotage Nigeria’s security and economy.

National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno, had said that the two companies were sabotaging the economy with export of fertiliser to the detriment of need for the product locally.

The companies held that their domestic supplies to customers were in accordance with the approval of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Farm Input and Supply Services (FISS) Department in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The companies affirmed continued support to local supply of fertiliser and agriculture for the growth of the nation’s economy, giving instances of working with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, some selected states, and International Fertiliser Development Center (IFDC).

IEFCL, in its statement signed by its head of Corporate Communications, Dr Jossy Nkwocha, maintained that “the company and its sister companies in Nigeria are not, and have not, and would never be directly or indirectly involved in any activity that will undermine or sabotage the economy or security of the nation.”

The company said it would continue to work with Federal Government regulators to achieve its vision of building the largest petrochemicals and fertiliser hub of Africa, with a cumulative investment of $4.32 billion by 2020.

The statement partly read: “Indorama-Nigeria is 100 per cent committed to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy; and has in the past 10 years demonstrated such total commitment and loyalty by providing more than 85 per cent domestic needs of polymers, which were hitherto imported into the country at huge foreign exchange cost.

“IEFCL has been loading and distributing an average of between 90-100 long trailers of fertilisers, each carrying 600 bags of 50 kilogrammes each, totalling over 57,000 bags of Indorama Urea fertiliser daily, over the past one month, for the benefit of Nigerian farmers across the country.

“Our brand new fertiliser plant has capacity for 1.5 metric tons of fertilisers per annum, which is designed to serve Nigeria’s entire domestic requirement and the surplus is for export markets. The plant is still awaiting official inauguration. However, our primary focus is to serve the interest of our domestic market and this we have been doing with great sense of responsibility and commitment to the Nigerian economy.

“In the past 10 years, Indorama-Nigeria has been a responsible corporate citizen, reputed for its excellent Public Private Partnership (PPP) – sharing its wealth/dividend with shareholders, including the Federal Government (through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Bureau of Public Enterprises), Rivers State government, host communities and Nigerian employees.

“We have created over 7,500 jobs, as well as engendered numerous Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes which impact very positively on its host and transit communities in Rivers State.”

Similarly, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, in its statement, bemoaned allegedly sabotaging Nigeria’s national security and economy by being a conduit for explosive materials.

Notore maintained that the company had no intention whatsoever, of engaging in any activity that was detrimental to Nigeria.

“As a Nigerian company with predominantly Nigerian beneficial shareholders, Notore has always been committed and is focused on supporting initiatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria and championing the African Green Revolution with a focus on Nigeria.

“Notore is the premier producer of urea fertiliser in sub-Saharan Africa and has been in production for over six years. As the champion of the African Green Revolution, Notore has as its core goal, enhancement of food production and food security in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. Part of its strategies to achieve this goal is to focus on sales in the local market via Notore’s extensive, controlled and award-winning distribution channels.

In addition, Notore has and uses extension workers who are committed to the training of local farmers on best practices and the creation of ‘test plots’ to showcase the benefits of effective use of fertiliser on crops, the creation of an effective and efficient distribution channel to ease access to fertilisers for the farmers, as well as boosting production capacity to meet the ever increasing demand of the Nigerian farmer.

“The Onne-based fertiliser makers and distributors said over the past several years, through its private extension services and controlled distribution channels, which include over 2,500 village promoters, it has reached over three million Nigerian farmers, who have been impacted positively with increased yields.

“As part of its commitment to Nigeria, the bulk (about 75 per cent) of Notore’s production of fertiliser is focused on the Nigerian market and because Nigeria largely has only one planting season, the majority of this production is sold locally during this peak season. Notore only exports limited amounts of fertiliser during the dry season — when there is essentially zero demand for fertiliser in Nigeria— yet continues to work aggressively with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to encourage and stimulate farming in Nigeria during the off-season, in order to further its core goal of increased food production and food security in Nigeria.”