Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger state, NigeriaPeople's Daily | 14 September 2024Niger Governor signs $684m agric contract with 2 Chinese companies
by Yakubu Mustapha, Minna
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger state has signed a $684 million contract agreement with China Overseas Engineering Group Company Limited (COVEC) and China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) with the state government.
Making this disclosure, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Media and Strategy, Usman Ebbo on his Facebook page stated that the agreement is also to develop 50,000 hectares of land for a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in the state.
Ebbo noted that the Governor took as a giant step in revolutionizing agricultural value chain in Nigeria especially in Niger state, hence he sent a delegation, led by the Secretary to the State Government, after completing all the processes to finalize the deal in China,
According to him, this long-term investment will revolutionize the agricultural sector, guarantee food security, create thousands of jobs, and stimulate economic opportunities and growth, focused is on promoting commodities and essential crops in Niger State with high potential to boost export revenues.
He explained that the Niger State SAPZ programs will promote increased productivity, job creation, value addition, efficient storage practices, market access, and increased private sector investment in select agricultural value chain commodities.
Ebbo stressed that the multi-million-dollar Niger State-SAPZ program will be designed to enhance complementarity with existing or completed agricultural projects already commended by the current administration of Governor Bago, including those in the roads, power, transport, water, and agriculture sectors.
He emphasized that Niger State is among the first few states to sign up for this agricultural initiative provided by the African Development Bank to positively catalyze agricultural development in Africa into an internationally competitive sector and an important contributor to sustainable development.
He added that they are also working with both governments and the private sector to turn the rural landscape into economic zones of prosperity by harnessing the power of commercial agriculture and food production.
