Ukrainian Authority said it would establish grain factories in Nigeria and other African countries.
The country’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Mykola Solskyi, made this disclosure on Wednesday, during a meeting with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar, in Abuja.
Solskyi further expressed Ukraine’s is interest and readiness to float grain producing Industries in Africa.
Solskyi who noted his country has struck agreement with the Senegalese government on the hub, expressing elation that Nigeria is ready to consider development.
Solskyi said the hub will see importation of high-quality grains to Nigeria at affordable prices.
“President of Ukraine supports this idea and Ukraine intends to develop hubs in two or three ports in West Africa,” he said.
Solskyi further said taking into consideration the capacity and size of Nigeria, the grain hub in the country was a priority.
He maintained that by February, about 25,000 tons of grains would be delivered to Nigeria.
“And we are very thankful to you that your country is ready to develop these relations. I think that despite all the events going on in the world, our countries are fully ready to develop this cooperation.
“We want to have regular contact every year on the level of Ministers, not only of Ministers of Agriculture but other Ministers as well.
“And we will appreciate it if your country is ready for developing more active relations,” Solskyi said.
For his part, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, thanked Ukrainian Government for such developmental initiative.
“We thank you very much for that. But not only that, you also are planning to have a grain hub in Nigeria, which we also appreciate.
“Nigeria is very willing and ready to provide the appropriate port for this grain hub in the country. I can assure you that the relationship between Nigeria and Ukraine will only improve. We have been having business, especially in the agricultural sector with Ukraine.
“I can say that 30 percent or more of our agricultural businesses are with Ukraine, especially in the area of wheat, in the area of fertilizer and other grains. And this, I can assure you, that we will continue to try and improve on that relationship,” Abubakar said.
