Former governor of Delta State, James Ibori‘s company, Notore Chemical Industries, is set to emerge the top beneficiary of the Federal Government‘s N200billion agricultural interventionist scheme, SUNDAY PUNCH findings have shown.
Our correspondents found that Notore has been strategically positioned to supply N40bn worth of fertiliser under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme established jointly by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to boost President Umaru Yar‘Adua‘s seven-point agenda.
The assurance of participation of Ibori‘s company in the FG‘s scheme came as many firms hoping to also participate in the supply of fertilisers to the scheme complain of inability to meet the stringent conditions allegedly attached.
This, however, may have given rise to speculations that Notore was being positioned to reap bountifully from the scheme as a way for Yar‘Adua to compensate the former governor for allegedly bankrolling his campaign in the 2007 presidential race.
Ibori was largely believed to have substantially supported the president‘s bid two years ago, a suspicion which many believe was behind the goodwill being enjoyed by him in the Yar‘Adua‘s administration.
Many have equally accused the authorities of soft dealing with Ibori in his ongoing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for corrupt practices.
Media aide to the minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Olu Lipede, denied that Notore was being favoured under the scheme simply because the company belongs to Ibori, even as he submitted that the former governor had a right to win government contracts.
“Ibori is a Nigerian and he has every right to do business; why should anyone infer that it is Ibori that is pushing Notore to do the business.
“The Ministry (of Agriculture and Water Resources) is a part of the Federal Government of Nigeria and government cannot refuse to act because of one individual,” Lipede stated.
Also, a spokesman for the former governor, Tony Eluemenor, said he was unaware that Ibori‘s clout was considered in awarding fertiliser supply contract to Notore, which was formerly known as National Fertiliser Company of Nigeria.
“I do not know about the link with Notore but I will ask him (Ibori). As the former NAFCON, Notore should be a big player in the fertilizer business and have its own clout.
“However, I do not want you to take these as my official reaction as I will give you a response by 3.00pm,” Eluemenor told our correspondent on Friday.
The implementation of the CACS scheme is being steered by a Project Management Committee comprising representatives from the CBN, the National, Commercial Agriculture Development Programme, participating banks, Federal Ministry of Finance, the Large Scale Farmers Association and the Debt Management Office.
The Executive Director of NFRA, Dr. Salisu Ingawa, who spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH in his office on Friday evening asserted that from all indications, Notore would be one of the foremost private sector players in the CACS scheme‘s implementation, adding that the federal and state governments were to expend N20bn each to subsidize the N100bn national fertilizer procurement requirements for 2010.
Ingawa, however, admitted that there were some flaws already in the implementation of the scheme but assured that attention was being paid to correct the flaws.
”At the beginning, the modalities for disbursement were not right and it would have resulted in the money going into a few hands without due process of ensuring what they would do, but, now, that is being resolved,” he said.
Comments (44)
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Bihem
said:
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... I thought they said Ibori is a criminal.....how come the national leader is giving hin contracts worth that.....na wah for this una yeye country.......and still they want armed robbers to stop operation...well its not possible.....more and more will continue to join  |
john
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... I wonder what the soldiers,thieves, pirates,opc,bakassi boys were doing. it's time we start killing this criminals instead of directing our guns towards innocent Nigerians. We just need to kill 200 people otherwise the bastards would not sit tight. |
abdullah musa abdul
said:
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... this is an idication that the anti-graft crusade louded by the regime is a total fiasco |
bobby kennedy
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... IT DOES NOT SURPRISE ME,THAT JAMES IBORI IS GETTING A BIG FAVOUR FROM,PRESIDENT SELECT[YAR ADUA]...THE SAME GOVT IS WORKING TIRELESSLY TO GET JAMES IBORI GIRL FRIEND OFF THE HOOK IN LONDON,WHERE SHE IS STANDING TRIAL FOR MONEY LAUNDIRING...GOD WILL PUNISH ALL THESE CORRUPT LEADERS..AMEN AMEN...BOBBY KENNEDY,JALINGO,TARABA STATE |
topsy
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... i used to think YHDua was an unlucky saint finding himself sandwiched beween sinners, but now i know better. YHDua has no iota of willingness to do right, his simply using these evil men around him to carry out his evil machinations. It is a case of standing behind a wall to throw stones |
Uzodinma Nwaogbe
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... This is really a shame on this Yar'Adua government, a man who is standing trial for corruption, a man claimed to have wanted to bribe Ribadu with about $15m, who Pa Riwane's death is still hanging on his neck, this is the man Yar'Adua is flirting with. Yar'Adua should be counting his days in office and on earth. |
Ahante Peter
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... Its been said that a ' labourer is worthy of his wages'.If Chief Onanefe Ibori has invested in this Govt, then its only wise that he reaps from the same government. Afterall, the return on investment is still very low. |
Kola S
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... I thought Notore was owned by Jite Okoloko, from the group of men that started OANDO. Is there anyone that can confirm this either way? |
ogie
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... Nigeria....suffering and smiling on the faces of the entire masses,no wonder there are so many motivational books sold in nigeria,apparently these writers are making their money from these people...why are we surprised about the ibori's case,nothing should surprise you in that country...remember it is action film always,and they were sending congratulatory messages to pres. obama... Even now the AGF is trying to free ibori's mistress from london who is been held for money laundering activites saying that she would be tried at home. May God punish all these vampires we have as leaders and may destruction never leave their homes...can i hear an amen.......... |
tboy
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... We'll just wake up one day and discover our country has disappeared....They are robbing us blind day in-day out...This is serious madness but i know that God is not sleeping.... |
AKOGWU'OMOO EMMANUEL
said:
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... I have always said it, Naija we are on our own. As Goodboy said above, only a rugged REVOLUTION, commando styled, will change the trend of leadership in Nigeria. Some persons have to go by way of elimination. The thought of a military coup does not appeal to me because even if the millitary takes over, these cabals will still hijack the government by their 'innovations'. If Ghana can achieve it, we can. Spain was on the same economic rating with Nigeria about 40 yrs ago, today spain is out of the woods and i bet how many of us will scrambble at the spannish embassy for a visa to spain, even if it means to go and prostutute there. Shamelessly President GO SLOW was last week begging the Spannish government to come and invest in Nigeria. Let us WATCH and pray Nigerians, not only prayers. The watching means ACT, SAY NO TO AN ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGING ILLEGALITY BY THE MINUTES. |
Aghatise
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... Nigerians should look beyond sentiments. If Notore applied and was awarded the contract fine. We should concern ourselves with service delivery. Allow the company to work instead of castigating them. At least Nigerians work in the company. I think we all need re-orientation, Politics is quick different from business and you dont expect Mr. President to forget existing relationship between himself and Ibori. Notore chemicals accept my congratulations for the contract and please make us proud by implementing the contract within your work plan. |
MARTIN KITT
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... THIS IS ANOTHER WAY OF HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF.WE HAVE GONE DOWN THIS ROAD B4. WELL , WHAT IBORI HAS TO BE REMINDED OF IS THAT AT ONE POINT WE HAD AN IDIOT LIKE HIM IN GOVERNMENT, IN THE PERSON OF OKOTIEBOH. HE STOLE SO MUCH MONEY, HE NEVER KNEW WHAT TOP DO WITH IT. IBORI HERE WE GO AGAIN. WAIT FOR YOUR KARMA!!!! |
Good Boy
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... @ Dapo Osewa. I hear you very well man. I swear if I can have a 4 thousand-man western trained and equiped force, I wiil easily bring down this Government. Thats the only thing I have in mind to do now, nothing else and may God help me in achieving it, ENOUGH FOR TALK! Nothing is going to change if certain people (many of them though) from the past and in the present are eliminated out of the Nigerian equation. |
Gbebu Gbebu Tact.
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... hmmmmmmmm! We should continue praying for "our" leaders for there is nothing prayer cannot do. Iseee! |
Sammy Sam
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... Since there is nothing called Coflict of Interest, all they do is in the interest of conflict. |
changenigeriamovement
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... Wonders shall never end. James Ibori loots the threasury to buy Notore. Then he turns around to further loot the threasury, using Notore as the instrument of choice. Just when you think you have heard or seen the worst of these people, they again demonstrate their limitless potential for "innovation" |
Oloto
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... Ibori, the de facto Prime Minister of Nigeria. What else is new? Ibori the president of nigeria? The drum is beating hard and harder. We know what the end result will be: the drum will eventually bust. |
Aye
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... If Yaradua could give all the major positioon to the north, what is 40b that he can give to loyalist. He deserve to be short in the head because he is not sincere to the country. |
Opheus
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... "Either way, a nation that says to God, it's all up to you, risk neglecting an obligation to act on its own behalf." ....Madeleine Albright, in her book "The Mighty And The Almighty" |
dipo_70
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... Bukky80, Conflict of Interest rule works in a control that its political class obey the rule of law and where nobody is above the law of the land, where people actually determine who rule them.Nigeria is a far opposit of such country in all sphere of life. Ocean has nailed it, they are preparing him for 2011 because they belong to same cult and he (Ibori) is capable of shielding them of all forms of internal/ external attack after Yaradua leaves presidency... however, they forget that Man proposes God disposes so lets wait and see. But my dismay is that, do they think other countries in the world are stupid even if Nigerians are stupid (based on some previous writters), you are spending £200 billion in Agriculture, fertilizer of all ingrident in farming and the country still import rice, apple, vegetable oil etc and you expect to be at the lowest leader of the most corrupt nation; hmmmm. I was once told that the brain of a greedy man is lower a foolish mad man on the street, why because in the cause of his greediness he takes decision that even a mad man will not take. As someone said earlier, your judgement days will soon come. |
Nne Mma
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... It is a pity that Evil seems to Triumph over Good in Nigeria, but it is not True. In the first place where did James O. Ibori get all THE MONEY HE IS USING TODAY? He got it through other activities and Delta State Government coffers in particular. But let him and all his cohort ENJOY and wait for the DAY of reckoning is coming. |
abdulqadir hussain katagum
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... nigeria our mother land. pls we need saviors that would sanitise our system of government. |
Mr. B
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... nigerians have lost all feeling, all emotion. For the the things that happen here to happen and almost go un noticed of without a care by anyone is amazing. And those of you who go on about Red Sea parting and the rest of the fairy tale stories are just the kind of followers the leaders want. Be waiting for Red Sea to part! Nigeria has the highest amount of Chruches , have u seen the public transport buses? The Molues? All branded with religeous stuff... The leaders encourage religoun and piousness for their personal gain..the more docile we are and the more people waiting for red sea to part the better for them..hope you have your swimming trunks on when the red sea parts and some miracle washes away you corrupt leaders.. LOL!!! |
MP Kriss
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... I think its hard time we the youth of Nigeria learn how to kill and retake this country from the criminally minded politicians and government pimps of PDP. Moreso, we should nt only criminalize James Ibori, this Chop-I Chop have been going with the Northern Leaders for so long, maybe its time for the Deltans tobe shown some luv from the Govt. |
Ude Okorie
said:
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... Nigeria we hail thee, our own dear native land, though tribe and tongue may differ in brotherhood we stand. Walahi, Good People, Great Nation or do we say we are GOOD PEOPLE, but for Crafty and dubious LEADERS we would have been a GREAT NATION. Far be it that our case will become the case of Ghana. No, God forbid that Somali should be another name for our dear country Nigeria. The Khaki boys should just close their eyes and ears, this is just a mere political and national issue, it does not threaten our territorial integrity. Even the boys in the creek should not bother with this, they should just stop agitation so that our fortunate leaders will have enough money to play around with. It may even be nice to advice Uwazurike of MASSOB to subpedal let our leaders continue with their MACABRE dance. For sure, it is pay back time. President Ya'ardua seem to be out for it. In the spirit of tranparency and rule of law, he is ready to do anything humanly possible to keep these guys around the corridors of power. He can trucate the so called democratic experiment to please his cronies. He may even have decided to pay the supreme price for their sake against all odds. My man of the moment is Obasanjo. How I wish he could sincerely speak to Nigerians about all these. Its unfortunate, our New National Anthem says we are one Nation Bound in Freedom. Each time I hear or sing this, I wonder how a Nation can be BOUND in FREEDOM. Any how, we have no choice than to remain in the bondage. I pray the PEACE and UNITY of our National Anthem we so desired will not elude us. |
bukky80
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... In Nigeria, don't we have a law called, Conflict of Interest? As a former government official, he was not suppose to be bidding for any contracts that he has interest in. As a member of the ruling party, he is not qualified to seek any contracts. |
Oceans
said:
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... huummm my heart BLEEDS....as i read this only in NIGERIA thieves reign SUPREME imagine Ibori with questionable deeds.Well rogues in multiples..... are in power so what do we expect.Rub my back i rob yours is the order of the day! Nigerians dont be suprised is a way of preparing for 2011 'S'ELECTION |
Chukwuka
said:
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... it is very unfortunate that Yar Adua still messes with People like lbori who ought to have been in jail by now.With what is happening in that country the president cannot be exonorated.The country needs to be purged of bad eggs. |
steve oladeji
said:
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... God safe us from all this vultures that call themsekves human beign somebody is facing economy crime prosecution at home and abroad, many allegation of corrupt practices yet his company is awarded such huge contract. someone then have a gut to tell us bushitt that " he is a Nigerian... Please God remove all these termites before they destroy our beloved country with their greeds and self interest |
Alamala
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... You guys must be dreaming. Someone that invested over 10 billion in electioneering stocks and bonds is only getting a mere 40billion in fertiliser contract. Walahi , the returns are unimpressive and fall well below par. Just look out for much larger contracts. |
Oga
said:
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... This is unbelieveable this people don't even care anymore. Will we continue to keep quiet and let them keep getting away with it? Our children will not forgive us ooooo |
kalamaya
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... They know very well that there is justice pot big enough to cook them in Nigeria,they will all pay back very soon. |
ADUROJA OLAWALE
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... My country is really funny.Ibori who is still under trial and now is in charge of a contract of that magnitude.Na wa o. Anything goes in this country that is why corruption will never stop.This is really dangerous because we are sending the wrong signal to the generation coming and the ones yet unborn. GOS HELP NIGERIA.Hmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
emeka mbata
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... THATS WHY I LOVE NIGERIA, its a very interesting country, ibori has alaways been my role model, whats wrong with iboris company winning a N40BN contract, what if his company bidded and won, its there any law against that. ibori go ahead and chop your money nothing do you. |
'Dapo Osewa
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... @Neche, god isnt gonna do nothing here. he hasnt even dealt with his so-called-pastors e.g the 4B naira jet riding ones. we need to get more desperate and learn how to kill. for the cause. get real. stop expecting god. |
'Dapo Osewa
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...to supply N40bn worth of fertiliser under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme established jointly by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to boost President Umaru Yar‘Adua‘s seven-point agenda. You mean to disappear ? Well, its time now to actually learn how to get and use RPG rocket launchers....and bring this joke of a country to shreds. |
MG
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... If Nigeria were to practice a true democratic system of government with rule of law, Yaradua and his entire cabinet would have been impeached and send to prison for corruption. James Ibori’s contract is the one that we know. I am sure there are other contracts awarded based not on the qualifications of the contractors, but on political patronage. This is an example of a system gone astray! Nigeria is currently on choke hold by PDP thieves. This MUST NOT be allowed to continue! |
Neche Promise
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... Pharoahs of Nigeria in action. God will harden your hearts for His power to be recognised. Thieves. |
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