‘Generation of N388bn from ethanol’ll boost Kebbi’s economy’ – Ka’oje

 The recent bio-fuel project on-going in Kebbi State will earn the state N388billion annually and boost the state’s economy.

The statement was made by the chairman of the Kebbi State Standing Committee on Bio-Fuel, Prof. Muhammad Ka’oje, who made the revelation while speaking in the Birnin-Kebbi on Monday, said the bio-fuel sourced from sugar will, in the long-run,  augment the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) in no small way.

The project being implemented in Gwazawa, Danko/Wasagu local government areas of the state

Ka’oje, a former Minister of Science and Technology, said: “We are not producing bio-fuel for the sake of producing bio-fuel; but we have  done our  calculations and our expectations, if the project is completed, it will supplement the state’s  IGR of N338 billion about one billion dollars, if we achieve our maximum target annually.

“It is our estimate and it can be more than that; and I am just talking about the cassava, but the bio-fuel from sugar is also going to contribute more substantially to the revenue of the state.

“That is the whole idea, to make the state self-content in the event of any eventuality.”

According to him, the project will provide empowerment and employment opportunities to number of people as it has a production line.

Ka’oje said that the state government had cultivated a total of 47,000 hectares of cassava to provide source of raw material for the ethanol bio-fuel production.

“About 15, 000 hectares has been earmarked for bio-fuel project; while 32,000 hectares will be used by out-growers to produce cassava.

“A lot of activities have taken place and now we are talking to the NNPC, as the next step is to prepare the machinery so that the production will commence soon,” he added.

The former minister disclosed that the committee had begun installation of equipment with capacity to generate alternative sources of energy to the host community as well serving the production of ethanol.

“Nigeria has the potentials to commence production of ethanol in large quantity for export especially from northern part of the country,” he said.

 Ka’oje, however, said that the project could not be completed according to initial work plan due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the committee would ensure completion of the project on time.

The state government and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had, on November 23, 2017, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for ethanol bio-fuel production project in the state.