$120M VICAMPRO POTATO PROCESSING PLANT IS A SCAM - THEY ARE NOT FARMERS

BARELY ONE MONTH AFTER THE LAUNCHING OF WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS THE BIGGEST POTATO PROCESSING PLANT IN AFRICA, A FORMER LAW MAKER SAID THE PROJECT IS A SCAM.

BY JOSEPH A ADUDU

HON. DILKON ADDRESSING JOURNALISTS

On the 24^th of September, 2015, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele performed what was termed “ground-breaking” for the $120 million (N45 billion) VICAMPRO Potato Farm and Processing Plant in Manchok, Kaura Local Government of Kaduna State. The project was adjudged the biggest potato plant in sub-Saharan Africa and that VICAMPRO farm is expected to cover 10,000 hectares of land and will generate 30,000 job opportunities for the youths.

Performing the ceremony, el-Rufai said that in order to open Kaduna state to the business and investment world, the state government worked with the State House of Assembly to pass a law that established the Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA) as an agency that coordinates activities towards attracting investment in the state. He said that Kaduna State was becoming a much easier place to do business and the efforts of the state government have already started yielding positive results.

Also speaking at the event, the CBN governor lamented the drop in oil prices which he said had drastically affected the country’s economy, stressing that there was the need for diversification as the only alternative and that what the Kaduna State Government did is what Nigeria needs at the moment. He assured the people that the CBN would collaborate with the Kaduna State Government to translate the idea of economic diversification to reality for the benefit of all.

However, in a swift reaction, Hon. Leonard Dilkon, the Chairman of Hamtul Press and one of the biggest farmers in Nigeria, alleged that the project is a scam.

Addressing journalists in Jos, the Plateau State capital last week, Dilkon, who was in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, said VICAMPRO are criminals in money-laundering and not farmers.

“I have invited you here today because it has become necessary as an APC stalwart who stood strongly for the change philosophy. Buhari has done so much, most especially in the area of security. Unfortunately, he is surrounded by enemies of this country and the earlier he realizes this and does away with them, the better. Otherwise, the level of corruption that we will witness would surpass that of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

“I was shocked to hear in the news that there was a memorandum of understanding between Kaduna State Government and VICAMPRO to process potato and that the project is one hundred and twenty million dollars, about forty-five billion naira. I want to say here on authority that this is a scam because VICAMPRO are criminals. They are not farmers. They are laundering money. We have been trying to find out who is behind VICAMPRO, but on Saturday last week, it was clear to us that the CBN governor is behind VICAMPRO.”

The former Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Finance further described the presence of the CBN governor at the event as a disgrace to all Nigeria and Nigerians. “It is a disgrace to Nigeria for the CBN governor to attend an event of scammers,” he said.

Hon. Dilkon added that they started that project, but VICAMPRO emerged from nowhere and hijacked it, claiming that they possessed thousands of hectares of land in Jos.

“I don’t know where the land is because where VICAMPRO is claiming is my land. They should take you journalists to the farm. I have one of the biggest farms in Nigeria and we are one of the biggest producers of mangoes. I have also taken you round my factory. Let VICAMPRO also take you round. They should take you to the farm. I also want to tell you that the project they are saying will cost $120 million is not more than $3 million.”

The attitude of the CBN governor, according to Dilkon, is the reason why Nigeria is witnessing economic recession. He called on President Buhari to sack the CBN governor and have him arrested.

He further alleged that the CBN is not giving dollars to the real sector; instead, the CBN gives out dollars to briefcase businessmen to be sold at the black market.

He wondered how VICAMPRO that was incorporated in 2014 with a share capital of N10 million, got a loan of N1 billion from CBN six months after its incorporation. He said that he had already petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the matter.

The farmer also alleged that INDORAMA Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals is another company that is sabotaging Nigeria.

“You would recall that the National Security Adviser came out to say that INDORAMA and one other company were sabotaging our economy. That is very true. I took you round where we produce bags, but we have not been able to produce since November last year for lack of raw materials that is supposed to come from INDORAMA.

“The company is no longer producing, yet they went on air to say that they are producing fertilizer, which is a lie. About 99 per cent of the fertilizer farmers used in this country were imported. If it is true INDORAMA is producing fertilizer, we would have saved dollars from importation.”

Dilkon further expressed shock on the lukewarm attitude of the CBN governor after the NSA’s revelation. When African Drum contacted the Managing Director of VICAMPRO Mr Michael Agbogo on his cellphone for response, he didn’t picked but later text us another number and name of one, Barrister Adeola Adediran said to be the Company’s lawyer who debunked all the allegations stressing that Hon Dilkon’s address to Journalists was entirely his opinion. She added that if they are criminals and not farmers, the Kaduna state governor and CBN governor wouldn’t have graced that occasion.