By Mohammed Baba Busu
Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger has signed a $684 million contract agreement with China Overseas Engineering Group Company Limited (COVEC) and China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) for the state government.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Media and Strategy Abdullberqy Usman Ebbo, on his verified Facebook page, stated that the agreement was 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, hence he sent a delegation led by the Secretary to the State Government, after completing all the processes to finalise the deal in China,
According to him, the long-term investment will revolutionise the agricultural sector and guarantee food security.
It will also create thousands of jobs and stimulate economic opportunities and growth as well as focus on promoting commodities and essential crops in Niger, with high potential to boost export revenues.
He explained that the Niger State SAPZ programmes would promote increased productivity, job creation and value addition.
According to him, it will further enhance 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 programme would be designed to enhance complementarity with existing or completed agricultural projects already commended by the current administration of Gov. Bago, including those in the roads, power, transport, water, and agriculture sectors.
The special adviser emphasised that
Niger was among the first few states to sign up for the agricultural initiative provided by the African Development Bank to positively catalyse agricultural development in Africa into an internationally competitive sector.
This will contribute immensely to sustainable development.
He added that they were also working with both government and the private sector to turn the rural landscape into economic zones of prosperity by harnessing the power of commercial agriculture and food production.
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