Borno Safe, Stable and Ready for Investment… Zulum
Bodunrin Kayode
In the midst of about 40 prospective Investors who attended the Kano roundtable held recently in Kano, Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Zulum has declared the state quite safe for investments.
He said the state was now stable, and ready for any long or short term investments even as he urged entrepreneurs to seize the abundant opportunities present in the agriculture, livestock, fisheries, housing, and infrastructure sub sectors abundant in the state.
The Governor gave the assurance during the second private sector engagement and investment roundtable held at Tahir Guests Place in Kano during the week.
Zulum represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mallumbe, during the roundtable, themed “Mobilising Private Capital for Durable Solutions and Sustainable Development”, attracted several potential investors from different sectors in Nigeria.
The program supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the European Union (EU), and the German Government, took place about three weeks after the “Lagos roundtable”, where Borno secured nine investment commitments accordingly.
Governor Zulum told private-sector entrepreneurs that the state was gradually shifting from the”humanitarian relief” syndrome to economic recovery, with private investment needed to create jobs and help families rebuild their livelihoods as the rehabilitation process continues.
The Governor maintained that Borno is safe, stable and open for businesses with its vantage position sitting at the nexus of the Lake Chad Basin, and serving as a natural trade corridor linking Nigeria to Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic.
Zulum credited the armed forces and other security agencies, including the volunteer comrades in arms, with the vital security gains of the state adding that Borno’s location offered business accesses to an underserved regional market with strong demand for goods and services.
The Governor identified the state’s vast arable land, livestock potential and solid mineral deposits as opportunities awaiting investment stressing that government has created the enabling environment, but the private sector should create wealth through jobs and resultant lasting prosperity.
Zulum explained that his administration so far has been investing in skills and human capital under Borno’s 25-year development plan as a long term strategy.
He stressed that the state’s vocational training centres had produced more than 3,000 graduates, while training in the health sector was also receiving special attention.
The Governor assured prospective investors that his administration would honour its commitments and support transparent public-private partnerships (PPP), particularly in housing, agriculture and other productive sectors.
“We are not here to ask for charity. We are here to present bankable, high-yield and direct investment opportunities for you. Borno is ready. Borno is bankable. We invite you to partner with a government that honours its word,” he assured.
Zulum revealed that incentives available to investors included streamlined land acquisition, infrastructure support, industrial clusters and a supportive tax framework.
Borno Economic Gateway to Over 50 million residents of late Chad
Chief Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG’s), Partnerships and Humanitarian Response, Dr Mairo Mandara hinted that Borno is a gateway into a regional economic system of more than 50 million people.
She maintained that Borno has moved from emergency to recovery status stressing that the task at hand now is to convert recovery into an economy which would work as a long term strategy for the people.
She hinted that participants would also receive briefings on the state’s proposed industrial park, inland dry port and bonded terminal, alongside details of the ease of doing business framework.
####
