Gov Bago, Chinese firms sign $684m MoU for food production in Niger

By FEMI AKINOLA
The Niger State Government under the ledership of Governor Muhammed Umaru Bago, has entered into an agreement worth a whopping $684 million with China Overseas Engineering Group Company Limited (COVEC), and China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC).
The step was taken to transform the state agriculture sector to ensure food security and stimulate economic growth.
Special Adviser to the state governor on Digital Media and Strategy, Abdulberqy Usman Ebbo, who made the disclosure, said under the agreement, a 50,000 hectare Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) will be developed to transform the sector.
Ahis words: ” This long-term investment will revolutionaize the agricultural sector, especially in Niger State, guarantee food security, create thousands of jobs, and stimulte economic growth.
” The focus is on promoting commodities and essential crops in Niger Staate with high potential to boost export revenues.”
Ebbo added that the Niger State SAPZ will promote increased productivity, job creation, value addition, efficient storage practices, market access and increased private sector investment in select agricultural value chain commodities.
The governor’s special adviser further revealed that Niger State is among the first few state in the country to sign up for the agricultural initiative provided by the African Development Bank to positively catalyzed agricultural development in Africa.