From Saka Bolaji, Minna
Niger State government has assured investors of conducive atmosphere for their investment to thrive.
This came as Dangote Industries Limited concludes plans for the take-off of a N148 billion ($450m) Sugar factory in the state.
Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello gave this assurance through his deputy, Ahmad Muhammad. Ketso, at a meeting between officials of Dangote Group and representatives of Jima-Nupeko villages in Lavun and Mokwa local government areas of the state, the host community for the proposed Sugar factory.
The meeting, which took place at the Etsu Nupe’s Palace in Bida, was geared towards discussing and harmonising the interest shown by Dangote Industries Limited to acquire 16,000 hectares of land for sugar cane farming and sugar production in the state.
The governor said that one of the means of creating job opportunities by his administration for the teeming youth in the state is by encouraging investors and development partners.
This, he said, would go a long way in boosting economy of the state, reduce unemployment and youth restiveness as well reducing crime rates as people will be gainfully engaged and increase the state’s internally generated revenue.
Governor Sani Bello then appealed to other investors, especially those in agriculture and agro-allied industry, to cash in on the state’s comparative advantage and various economic incentives being offered by the government to invest in the state.
The meeting then set up a technical committee to study and harmonies all issues that will engender successful take-off of the Sugar factory and report back within six weeks, while the office of the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice was also directed to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) before the next meeting.
Head Of Human Resource And Administration, Sugar Refinery, Dangote Group, Murtala Zubairu, commended the approach of the state government for the successful take-off of the multi billion naira project.
He said the project, which will be in phases, would start of in a few months with the take-off the Sugar Cane plantation.
Zubairu assured the government and people of the state that Dangote Group is a socially responsible entity and promised that the company would not shirk its responsibilities to the host community and the state in general.
The sugar cane farming and sugar factory when in place will provide 2,200 direct jobs, 5,300 in-direct jobs, while the plant is expected to produce1,100 tonnes of sugar annually. The project will also produce ethanol, and generate 20 megawatts of power, among others.
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