By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Government has unveiled plans to establish a gold refinery and processing plant before t...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Government has unveiled plans to establish a gold refinery and processing plant before the end of the year as part of ongoing efforts to accelerate industrialisation and harness the state’s vast mineral resources.
The Commissioner for Investment and Private Sector Development, Aminu Sulaiman Takuma, disclosed this while addressing journalists shortly after the Niger State Day celebration at the ongoing trade fair in Minna.
According to the commissioner, the proposed refinery project will be financed by an Australian firm, although he declined to disclose the exact location where the facility would be sited.
Takuma explained that the project forms part of the state government’s broader strategy to attract foreign direct investment and position Niger State as a major industrial and mining hub in Nigeria.
To reassure foreign investors and address concerns over insecurity, the commissioner revealed that the state government had concluded arrangements to deploy drone technology for surveillance across forests and other vulnerable areas of the state.
“There will be no more hiding places for bandits and terrorists anywhere in the state,” he declared, noting that enhanced security measures are critical to creating a conducive environment for investment and economic growth.
He further stated that the government is prioritising infrastructural development across the state to facilitate the smooth movement of goods and services and stimulate industrial expansion.
As part of efforts to strengthen economic activities around the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, the commissioner disclosed that the government is engaging investors for both aeronautical and non-aeronautical services at the airport.
Takuma also announced that the state government had taken over the management of the Baro Port, adding that attention had shifted from dredging activities to the operational utilisation of the facility.
According to him, ships from Port Harcourt and Warri would offload goods at Baro, from where the cargoes would be transported to northern states, thereby boosting regional trade and reducing logistics challenges.
In another major agricultural initiative, the commissioner disclosed that, following study tours to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, the state government had concluded plans to establish seed development companies across the three senatorial zones of the state.
He explained that the initiative is aimed at preserving farmers’ harvests, improving crop yields, and strengthening food security through modern agricultural practices.
Takuma maintained that Niger State possesses enormous economic potential in agriculture, mining, transportation, and industrial development, stressing that private investors would be engaged to harness these opportunities and create employment for youths.
“We believe government has no business running businesses directly. The private sector must take the lead while government provides support and enabling policies,” the commissioner stated.
Observers say the initiatives signal the determination of the Bago administration to diversify the state’s economy, deepen private sector participation, and transform Niger State into a strategic investment destination in Nigeria.
No comments