Niger Can Feed Africa, Says Osinbajo

• Niger Can Feed Africa, Says Osinbajo

Niger State has the capacity to produce assorted crops that will feed Africa, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

He spoke in Minna, the Niger State capital, where he declared open a two-day Niger State Economic Submit with the theme: Impact investment for advancing agricultural economy and innovation.

The conference, which attracted economic experts, industrialists and manufacturers and some state governors, was organised to attract investors in various sectors to boost the state’s economy.

Osinbajo praised Governor Abubakar Bello for organising the conference, noting that it would assist in attracting investors, especially in the agricultural sector.

He called on state governments to assist farmers with alternative sources of power, to enable them to process and preserve their produce.

The Acting President said the Federal Government was ready to partner with state governments willing to rehabilitate federal infrastructure in their areas.

“Niger State government is collaborating with the Federal Government to complete Baro Port,” he said, noting that such projects would create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Osinbajo said Niger was hosting three major hydro dams, adding that renewable energy was the way forward to increase the capacity of villagers and farmers for agricultural investment.

He said there was also the need to improve on road infrastructure for enhanced agricultural development in the state.

Bello said the state had large deposits of natural resources, such as hydro carbon at the Bida Basin, gold, copper, tin, iron ore, tantalite, kaoline and clay.

He said the potential in the mining sector were untapped and open for investment.

Similarly, there abound tourism sites, such as the Zuma Rock, Bark Empire Hills, Nagwamatse Well, Mongo Park Cenotaph and Gurara Waterfalls.

Bello explained that the state government had developed a road map on some cardinal investment potential such as Banana Free Trade Zone, Garam Industrial Park, Baro Port and Suleja New Smart City.