‘Economic Diversification Has Improved Our Fortunes’-Kebbi Governor

Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu says the step taken by the Muhammadu Buhari led administration to diversify Nigeria’s economy has greatly improved the fortunes of the country.

Speaking to Journalists in Abuja on the backdrop of the country’s 61^st independence anniversary, the Governor said Nigeria has made a lot of progress and is now a more confident nation because its domestic production has improved.

He said: “I am very pleased with the progress we have been making in diversifying our economy. We are now a more confident nation in terms of domestic production. Few years ago, we literally imported most things that we use but now we are becoming self-sufficient in a number of areas.”

Border Closure
He also said the closure of borders by Nigeria two years ago helped a great deal in revamping the Nigerian economy.

“The border closure which extended to over a year was the best message by our President that while we respect and love our neighbours, they are our brothers, we will take any step to protect our economy and also encourage them to also protect their economies so that we develope West Africa and the whole of Africa in order to compete globally,” he said.  

The Governor used the occasion to call on all States in the country to brace up and work hard to improve their economies for the progress of the entire nation.

“My message on this 61^st anniversary is as always, for us to be optimistic and know that States in Nigeria should not be competing rather, we should complement each other to produce more so that we can compete globally and that will create employment, generate income and encourage more of our investors,” Bagudu explained.

Kebbi Partnering with NNPC
He also announced that Kebbi State has gone into partnership with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a private company on how to enhance the production of biofuel.

He said: “Today, the Kebbi State and NNPC Renewable Energy Division and Contec Global, announce a partnership where the NNPC has recommended Contec Global, and Kebbi State has accepted the company as an investor in the proposed biofuel programme which was kick started few years ago by the renewable energy division of the NNPC. So, today we are announcing that the company is joining us as an investor.”

The Governor said the programme introduced in Kebbi is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan of diversifying the economy in all States of the country.

“I think this is beyond Kebbi, the Renewable Energy Division of the NNPC has been trying as part of the vision of the President, to diversify actively so that the bulk of NNPC’s revenue will one day come from biofuel and this will mobilize all parts and indeed all States of Nigeria because the NNPC has been already entering into relationships with many States of biofuel which is already a very laudable development for our country.  

“We believe that if States embrace biofuel as a number of us are doing, we will diversify our revenue, improve domestic production and generate more income for our people, States and the country,” he added.

Group General Manager of the Renewable Energy Division of the NNPC, Hussaini Tahir revealed that already, the NNPC has two programmes in Kebbi State, which include the cassava fuel ethanol and sugarcane fuel ethanol plants.

“The one that we just had an agreement now to develop in Kebbi is the cassava ethanol. All the predevelopment issues have been taken care of, the visibility studies have been done and the state has been found to be viable and the plant will be an integrated one, whereby we produce pure ethanol.

“We will also have a co-generation plant whereby we produce power for the plant and if you have excess, it can be transferred to the national grid. We will also be able to produce animal feed and starch,”  Mr Tahir added.

Confidence Okwuchi