In Nigeria, the drive towards industrialization does not have known borders. As the wind of industrialization blows across the land, the hype about economic diversification is catching on. President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration’s trade and investment policies will help the nation to diversify the economy, attract more foreign investments and speed up the country’s industrialization.
President Buhari stated this at the commissioning of two newly-established agro-based industries, shortly before he ended his two-day visit to Kano state last week. The President noted that the overall effect of the achievements would lead to job creation and better living conditions for Nigerians as promised by the governing All Progressives Congress, APC.
At the newly-built 1,200-ton capacity solvent extraction plant of Gerawa Oil Mills Limited, the biggest oil mill plant in West Africa, located at Tokarawa Industrial Estate, President Buhari commended the owner of the plant for taking full advantage of the prevailing investment climate in the country. The President also commissioned and inspected Fullmark Rice Mills, the biggest rice mill in West Africa, at Kwanar Gunduwawa, Hadejia road.
While touring the facilities, President Buhari expressed delight at the wholly-owned indigenous companies and assured agro-investors of his administration’s commitment towards creating the right policies for agriculture to thrive. At the solvent extraction plant of Gerawa Oil Mills, the Chairman of the company, Alhaji Isa Gerawa, commended the policies of the Buhari administration on agriculture, describing them as key to Nigeria’s exit from recession and upward attainment of food security.
The industrialist, however, appealed to Buhari to urgently address the issue of poor access to finance for farmers and agro-investors in the country.
The President, who had to visit Daura, his hometown, before returning to Abuja, declared that the relevant federal ministries would continue to assist foreign and local entrepreneurs who had identified areas of Northern Nigeria as the chosen destination spots for their investments.
