Tuesday, 22 May 2012
N70b MoU For Rice Farm: A Contract With A Nonexistent Company?
Penultimate week, our party (ACN, Kwara) issued a statement dismissing what has become the unsavoury borrowing habit of the PDP-led government in Kwara State without commensurate execution of projects for which such funds were sought.
Today, in line with our commitment to ensure that it is no longer business as usual in Kwara, we are again raising the alarm over what is clearly another attempt to commit public fund and property to yet another questionable project. Last Thursday, the PDP government signed an MOU with one ‘Vasolar Consortium of Spain’ for the cultivation, processing and packaging of rice in commercial scale in the State.
Under the agreement, according to media reports, “the Consortium will provide a total capital of N70 billion over a period of four years while the State Government is expected to provide about Seven Million Euros and 20,000 hectares of land to kick-start the project.”
We deem the whole arrangement a monumental fraud. For one, our research since the Thursday event reveals that no company exists under the name Vasolar Consortium whether in Spain or anywhere in the world! Assuming without conceding that such a company exists in Spain, how come it is not listed or registered with the Spanish’s equivalent of our own Corporate Affairs Commission? Does that not raise the question of credibility which is sin qua non in any business deal?
Again, since the whole project is tagged a N70b venture and the ‘Vasolar Consortium’ is to provide this fund over a period of four years, why must Kwara Government commit another seven million Euros of taxpayers’ fund to the same venture it is certain to convert to a private venture just like it did with the fraud called Shonga Farm? If, as it is clear from the above, that Vasolar Consortium is a nonexistent company, why give out 20,000 hectares of fertile land belonging to our people?
This fraud must not stand. We urge the people of Kwara State to resist by all means legal this fraudulent arrangement under the guise of commercial farming. Enough is enough!
Mr. Kayode Olawepo,
Kwara ACN Chairman
Comments
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70 billion rice project in conjuction with foreigners
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 7, 2012 - 10:16.
The trade mark of the Govt.CONTINUITY)in our state would continue to reflect in the present administration and Kwaran would na
ever be brtter for it forever if nothing is done to check this lotters of our resourses.
Won't kwarans learn ?
Submitted by okeso (not verified) on February 6, 2012 - 23:32.
Several state funds were committed to tsonga farm and @ the end of the day it has been privatised because investigation has revealed that the NEW NIGERIA FARMER does not registered with CAC rather NEW NIGERIA ENTERPRISES which was registered by olusola and morenike saraki in the ealy 70's was registered.
To all those insisting that a
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 6, 2012 - 17:06.
To all those insisting that a consortium is not a company, be informed that it is a joint venture and must be registered. I advise these guys to do a very good homework, concretise their arguments and let the anti-fraud bodies in on it.
cry wolf
Submitted by keh (not verified) on February 3, 2012 - 18:18.
The ACN is always crying wolf where there is non,why not do a concise investigation about all the firms that constitute the consortium before concluding that the transition is fraud. What we need now in the state is constructive criticism to move forward.
cry wolf
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 3, 2012 - 18:09.
The ACN is always crying wolf where there is non,why not do a concise investigation about all the firms that constitute the consortium before concluding that the transition is fraud. What we need now in the state is constructive criticism to move forward.
Let's not wait till we are
Submitted by Really (not verified) on February 3, 2012 - 17:03.
Let's not wait till we are directly involved to cry wolf.
If the allegation is true, why do we need a spanish consortium to help us cutlivate rice if we are serious about manufacturing food products? What role will the consortium play because I don't think 70b Naira is such a high figure to raise over 4 years? So will they also provide the farmers? Or provide the equipement. Anyone who knows anything about politics, in Nigeria at least, must know that the so-called consortium is nothing short of a front to steal at least 20 million euros from the coffers of Kwara. Shame! We've moved from importing even the most basic things to importing the ... what is being imported here?
Do your homework
Submitted by jabolo (not verified) on February 2, 2012 - 18:17.
Haba, a consortium is not a company by itself but an arrangement between several companies to act together on a transaction. That's why you will find no mention of a "Vasolar Consortium" anywhere.
Find out about the companies cooperating in the consortium then you can come back and shout.
Olodo!
PLEASE REPORT TO EFCC IF......
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 2, 2012 - 15:56.
Please if you have the facts and figures report your case to EFCC even though both EFCC and PDP are thesame.
The rice to be produce will be sold to our people and the people employed will also ours.
THINK ABOUT THIS PLEASE.
Abeg 2nd base jare. The
Submitted by Poky (not verified) on February 2, 2012 - 14:39.
Abeg 2nd base jare. The Saraki´s need some new toys, so the ever docile Kwarans have to pay.
