We Will Re-Establish Largest Spanish Tomato Factory — FG

The Federal Government has said it is working to provide adequate security for the re-opening of a  Spanish-run largest tomato factory in Kebbi State,  Nigeria.

The government gave the assurance through its Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, when the Spanish Ambassador in Nigeria,  Juan Ignacio-Sell, paid him a courtesy visit.

Mohammed reiterated the position of President Muhammadu Buhari during his recent visit to Spain that adequate protection would be given for the re-opening of the factory.

“I am glad that Spanish investors are already making an impact in Nigeria.

“I am glad that one of the highlights of the meetings with the President in Spain, was to give assurance to the Spanish food company of adequate security to come back to Kebbi state,” he said.

 A Spanish company, GB Foods had in 2020, opened a N20 billion Tomato processing factory in Kebbi State in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kebbi State Government and the Emirate of Yauri but was shut down in March for security reasons.

The factory is the only fully backward integrated plant in ECOWAS  with the largest single tomatoes farm in Nigeria.

The minister also thanked the Ambassador for proposing a music festival for Nigerian budding musicians and  a Spanish language teaching desk at the University of Lagos

He noted that Nigeria and Spain shared diversity and creativity and he looked forward to deepening relations with Spain in the area of culture, tourism and creative industry

Earlier the Spanish  Envoy announced the plan to organise a music festival, to be held in Lagos or Abuja, for budding Nigerian musicians.

He said the festival would give young Nigerian musicians the opportunity to showcase their talents.

The Envoy added that those who excel at the festival would be invited to music festivals in Spain to give them exposure and a platform to showcase their talents.

He also announced a plan by the Spanish Embassy to endow a Chair in Spanish language at the University of Lagos from 2023, with a view to encouraging the teaching of Spanish language in Nigeria.