….As Osinbajo says Africa must reposition its economy to attract investors***
The Katsina State Government says it has invested N200 million in rice and cotton production under the Anchor Borrowers Programme in the state.
Dr Abba Abdullahi, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Agriculture, disclosed this in Katsina on Tuesday, at the opening of a town hall meeting on the programme.
The town hall meeting was organised by the state government in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the co-sponsor of anchor borrowers programme.
“We have rice and cotton farmers that collected the CBN loan under the anchor borrowers programme to boost rice and cotton production and the programme needed supervision.
“We used the funds to supervise and inspect all the rice and cotton farms in the 34 local government areas of the state.
“The Katsina state government also purchased over 35 motorcycles for extension workers to visit rice and cotton farmers with the aim of offering pieces of advice to them,” he said.
Abdullahi said that part of the fund was used for the repair of 15 vehicles for officers involved in supervising the extension workers.
Earlier, Alhaji Shehu Musawa, the Managing Director, State Agricultural and Rural Development Project (KATARDA), said the stakeholders’ meeting was to review how the programme fared during the rainy season.
“Anchor borrowers programme has achieved the desired goal in the state as it has boosted rice and cotton production.
“We are expecting bumper harvest of cotton and rice in the state,” Abdullahi said.
In his contribution, Keystone Bank’s representative, Malam Ahmed Musa, said that the bank would continue to support agricultural programmes in the state.
In the meantime, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on Africa to reposition its economy in the direction that will attractive investors because investment depends on the advantages derivable.
Osinbajo made this call while interacting with a committee of African Ambassadors to Indonesia led by the dean of the group, Ms Alice Mageza of Zimbabwe, on the sideline of his two-day working visit to Jakarta.
The Ambassadors include those of Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia.
Mr Laolu Akande, Spokesperson to the Vice President on Media and Publicity disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The statement quoted Osinbajo as saying that Africa’s indices of having the lowest integration statistics as well as the lowest GDP ratio can only be reversed by preparing the continent for quality investments that will benefit the people.
The vice president, who was responding to questions from the Ambassadors on the future of Africa’s economic prosperity, said, “the quality and quantum of potential investors in Africa is huge.
“But that the way that such investments will go will depend on the advantages that the investors get from investing in such economies.
“We in Africa must prepare our economies in that direction that attracts such huge and qualitative investments. It is for us to push and we must push,’’ he said.
On the kinds of investments that Africa desires, Osinbajo said African must focus on the manufacturing sector.
He noted, “the most important thing for Africa is that whoever wants to invest in our countries should start in manufacturing.’’
He, however, urged African diplomats in Indonesia to work together in the quest for attracting investment opportunities to Africa.
Osinbajo said, “if you negotiate together, it is probably going to be more effective than if we negotiate separately.’’
Earlier, Vice President met with Indonesian business leaders under the auspices of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he stressed the need for Indonesian companies to increase their investment portfolios in Nigeria.
“Nigeria would like to see more Indonesian companies invest in the manufacturing sector even though there are quite a few activities going on in Nigeria; there is also room for more collaboration and cooperation.
“The opportunities in the various sectors comprising oil and gas, manufacturing are huge because the major incentive lies in the market, the Nigerian and the West African markets.’’
Giving an overview of ongoing projects in Nigeria and collaborations between Indonesian and Nigerian businesses, Osinbajo said Nigeria would need a rolling stock in its railway revitalization project.
He outlined the various incentives given by the Federal Government to attract investors into Nigeria as, government’s efforts at increasing foreign exchange availability through the NIFEX market.
Others he said include approval of pioneer status for some category of companies to enjoy a range of incentives; establishment of special economic zones; initiatives to increase foreign exchange availability and opening up of marginal fields.
Earlier, some members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry also expressed concern about the declining value of the Indonesia-Nigeria trade which currently stands at $1.70 billion dollars from $3.18 billion in 2012.
The chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Rosan Roeslani said, “being the 15th largest economy in the world, Indonesia through its investors is desirous of increasing its portfolios to levels that justify Nigeria’s position as the country’s biggest trading partner in Africa.’’
He said Osinbajo’s visit to Indonesia and meeting with the business leaders are strong indications that Nigeria is ready to take her pride of place among Indonesia’s biggest trading partners in the world.
On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of Indonesia Exim Bank, Shintya Roesly expressed the readiness of the bank to support the revitalization of trade relations between both countries.
She said this will be through the financing of import and export activities with a view to making even the balance of trade between the two countries.
Roesly stressed the need for creation of a roadmap and the establishment of a working group with timelines to enhance trade development between both countries.
Mr Daniel Purba, the representative of PERTAMINA – Indonesian state-owned oil and Natural Gas Corporation said the company has already opened discussions with stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
According to him, this is with the view to investing in Nigeria’s upstream assets.
There were other interests expressed by investors in the railway, aviation, agriculture and foods sectors.
The Vice President was accompanied to the meeting by Mr Hakeem Balogun, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Indonesia; Dr Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Mines and Steel Development; Hajiya Zainab Ahmed.
Others include the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning; Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, the Political Adviser to the President, and other top government officials.
