- Acting President Osinbajo spoke at an investment summit organised by the Niger state government
- Osinbajo urged the state government to take advantage of the riches of the state
- The acting president said Niger has one of the largest arable lands in the country
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has described Niger state as very important to Nigeria because of its land mass and the infrastructure it houses on behalf of the country.
Osinbajo who spoke at the investment summit organised by the state on Monday, August 14, said Niger occupies 10 percent of Nigeria’s land area.
“This is perhaps the largest tracts of arable land in the sub-region,” the acting president said.
The acting president being received in Niger state. Credit: Professor Yemi Osinbajo
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He further noted that the state has “the largest number of hydro-power assets, a hardworking, resourceful, youthful population and an experienced and purposeful leadership.”
The summit was tagged: ‘Truly Niger’ and held at the Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna, the capital of the state.
Osinbajo described Niger state as a yet to be discovered jewel; “a real treasure hiding in plain sight.”
The acting president said the Niger government had made efforts improve the business-friendly environment of the state.
The acting president with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the event. Credit: Professor Yemi Osinbajo
He implored the government to leverage on existing measures like the creation of the Niger state Geographic Information System (NIGIS); the streamlined issuance of certificates of occupancy within 72 hours; and the reduction in the cost of getting a Certificate of Occupancy by 90 percent and from between N150,000 and N180,000 to only N15,000 to achieve its investment objectives.
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“The state must take advantage of its location close to the Federal Capital Territory to become a manufacturing hub.
“This is especially the case for small and medium enterprises that can produce light manufacturers to serve the rapidly growing population of Abuja,” he said.
NAIJ.com had reported that the event also witnessed the attendance of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The report said the ating president had touched down in the state earlier in the day, to declare open the economic summit. The announcement was made public via the twitter account of Inside Arewa News, @Insidearewa.
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