By Abdullahi Idris, Dutse Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, on Tuesday presided over the signing of a landmark Memorandum of U...
By Abdullahi Idris, Dutse
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, on Tuesday presided over the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a consortium of investors for the large-scale production of alfalfa, under which the state government committed to providing up to 100,000 hectares of land for the project—one of the largest alfalfa production initiatives in Africa.
The MoU followed a courtesy visit by a high-level delegation led by the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa.
Members of the delegation included the Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Abubakar Abba Bello; the Managing Director of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang; the Managing Director of Jaiz Bank, Mr. Haruna Musa; and representatives of private-sector partners including Capemano, Alami Capital, EL-Meena Farms, and Matura Farm. Officials of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and other key institutions were also present.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Governor Namadi reaffirmed Jigawa State’s unwavering commitment to agriculture and livestock development, describing agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy.
“Agriculture is the lifeblood of this state. About 90 per cent of our population depends on it for their livelihood, and it contributes more than 50 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product. Any serious government that genuinely seeks to uplift its people must prioritise agriculture,” the governor said.
He highlighted Jigawa’s achievements in the sector, noting that the state ranks second nationwide in ease of doing business and remains a leader in crop production.
“We are number one in wheat production, and this year alone we cultivated 315,000 hectares of rice. Our target of reaching 500,000 hectares by 2030 is firmly on course,” he added.
On livestock development, Governor Namadi described alfalfa production as a game-changing opportunity for the state.
“Livestock is inseparable from agriculture. That is why we deliberately established a Ministry of Livestock this year. Jigawa hosts the largest livestock market in Africa—the Maigatari Market—and this project will further consolidate our leadership,” he said.
The governor expressed strong confidence in the partnership, citing the success of the pilot alfalfa project implemented by Matura Farm.
“When Matura Farm started, many doubted its feasibility. Today, it is producing some of the highest-quality alfalfa in the world,” he noted.
He assured the investors of the state’s readiness to provide the full land requirement for the project.
“The project targets 100,000 hectares, and I want to assure you that we will make all of that available over time,” he said.
Governor Namadi further emphasized Jigawa’s peaceful environment and investor-friendly policies as major attractions.
“We are currently the most peaceful state in Nigeria. Jigawa is safe, open for business, and fully committed to providing all the support investors need,” he stated.
He also pledged seamless facilitation through the state’s investment promotion agency.
“We operate a one-stop investment platform—InvestJigawa—which handles everything from land allocation to regulatory processes. You have found a committed partner,” he said.
“As a government, we will do whatever it takes. This is a profitable venture. You have the land, labour, security, and political will. Everything required for success is here,” the governor added.
In his remarks, NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the project aligns directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priority agenda on food security and agricultural expansion, noting that implementation would commence immediately.
“Priority number two on the President’s agenda is boosting agriculture to achieve food security. Jigawa’s investment-friendly environment is one of the key reasons this project is being located here,” Inuwa said.
Providing technical insight, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Professor Salim Mohammed, described alfalfa as a high-protein forage crop capable of transforming livestock productivity, generating mass employment, and expanding export revenues.
“On just 1,000 hectares, more than 150 youths are employed even before cultivation begins. Many more will be engaged in planting, irrigation, harvesting, processing, and marketing,” he explained.
He added that herding communities, particularly Fulani pastoralists, would directly benefit from improved feed availability.
“Fresh alfalfa significantly enhances milk production, meat quality, and breeding performance,” he said.
Professor Mohammed confirmed that the initiative represents a multi-billion-naira investment.
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