Saudi Arabian investors have expressed their interest in keying into various investment opportunities in Niger State’s agriculture and dualisation of Minna-Bida road projects.
Governor Mohammed Bago confirmed this during a media chat held at the sideline of the negotiation with Saudi Arabian – Nigeria Roundtable Meeting held in Mecca, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Governor Bago who expressed delight over the outcomes of the investment parley, disclosed that some of the Saudi Arabian investors have expressed readiness to invest in the agriculture and road infrastructural projects across the state.
According to Governor Bago, the negotiation with the Saudi Arabians included the dualization of Bida – Minna Road.
While confirming that the state and investors have resolved to collaborate on agriculture, he explained that the investors have resolved to choose Niger State as the state for the first pilot scheme because of its proximity to the FCT and its bodies of water for irrigation.
“We have four hydropower dams that are currently functional.
“We have bodies of streams and water. We have both River Niger and River Benue.
“We are the largest producer of Sheanut and also paddy rice in Nigeria.
“So, this is a very big opportunity and avenue to showcase ourselves, which we have done. And we have gotten interested collaboration,” Governor Bago noted.
Earlier in his address, President Tinubu, on Monday night, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, advanced negotiations concerning a multi-billion dollar infrastructure finance facility from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to fund a multi-sectoral portfolio of infrastructure projects at both Federal and Sub-national levels in Nigeria.
During the Saudi-Arab-African Economic Summit, the President of Islamic Development Bank announced the provision of US$50 billion of new investment for the African continent from the Arab Coordination Group (ACG).
In the same vein, the Islamic Development Bank Vice-President also reiterated the Bank’s resolve to support Nigeria’s economic transformation.
As the largest market and the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria is expected to secure a significant share of the multi-billion dollar investment for the Continent.
