The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima has commissioned Springfield Agro Limited Crops Protection Chemical plant, a subsidiary of Kewalram Chanrai Group, which deals with the provision of total farm solutions to the Agriculture sector of the Nigeria economy.

The Vice President made this known at the commissioning of the plant at Ewu-osi, Sagamu Ibadan expressway in Ogun state, saying that there was need for the expansion of industrial capacity across the value chain in order to guarantee food security in the country.

The Vice President, represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Aliyu Abdullahi, said that the only way to achieve this, was through the ambitious and committed private sector, to complement policies put in place by the Government with a view to redefining the trajectory of the nation's economy.

He noted that despite being a continent blessed with vast arable land and the potential to be the food basket of the world, Africa's share of global manufacturing remains less than 2 percent, adding that Nigeria has no excuse not to be at the forefront of reversing this reality.

 ‘’Our duty as a Government is to remove barriers and provide the necessary support for businesses. Agriculture remains a cardinal priority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this resolve has inspired the quality and scale of programmes designed to support farmers in increasing their productivity and yield, through research institutes, mechanisation schemes and cutting-edge technology. Our focus on food security is driven by unshakeable belief that Nigerians have no reason to grow hungry,’’ he said.

          He pointed out that the commissioning of the Agro Chemical plant aligns perfectly with the Federal Government agenda to combat hunger and enhance national food security, while commending Springfield Agro limited for investing heavily in Nigeria since its inception in 2004.

Senator Shettima maintained that the President Tinubu led-administration remains a reliable partner in every effort to transform the nation's Agricultural Sector and it would continue to operate an open-door policy to support and encourage all stakeholders, particularly indigenous firms to produce locally.

 He Commended the Ogun State Government for creating an enabling environment for companies to thrive, while urging other states to emulate the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in driving the country forward in food sufficiency alongside creating more Industrial expansion and Job creation for its citizenry.

In his remarks, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said Springfield Agro, a subsidiary of the Kewalram Chanrai Group has made tremendous strides in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, in providing total farm solutions, from seeds to fertilisers, tractors and post-harvest processing, adding that its expansion into manufacturing is a major step forward.

The Governor added that Ogun State was committed to creating a conducive environment for industries to flourish and thrive within the State, adding that Agriculture is a critical component of his government’s economic development strategy.

Governor Abiodun, represented by his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, revealed that, the impact of Springfield Agro’s work extends beyond Ogun State and has contributed significantly to agriculture and trade across Africa, including export such as agricultural commodities and investments, frozen fish and industrial chemicals.

He assured of Ease of Doing Business framework, reiterating that it would continue to provide infrastructure, policies, and incentives needed to encourage investments which would not only drive economic growth but also create a more inclusive and equitable society.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman Kewalram Chanrai Group, Mr. NG Chanrai, said that the success of Spring Field in Nigeria has given the company confidence to expand to other countries, adding that, in line with the Federal Government Policies on Agriculture, the organisation was poised to produce quality products that would meet the demand of the consumers.

 He added that all materials used for production were sorted locally with a view to patronising local manufacturers, noting that Kewalram has provided over 4000 employment to people of the state.