Gombe State Governor Receives Africa’s Richest Man, Dangote Promises Investment 

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has received Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, who visited him at the Government House, Gombe.

Speaking to newsmen after a closed door meeting, Dangote indicated that his company was ready to take advantage of the favourable business environment in Gombe State.

Dangote said Gombe State had provided a good template for his company, saying the time is ripe to take full advantage of the huge limestone, coal and gypsum deposits in the state and commence cement manufacturing.

“It is one of the very lucrative areas for us in term of cement production. The State has a location advantage. It is close to Borno and other Northeastern States as well as Cameroon and so on. So if we produce 20% of what we need here, it will be about the cheapest instead of bringing them over here from other locations. So if we have the opportunity to do so we will definitely start production here”, he assured.

He said Governor Yahaya had provided the necessary investment atmosphere and infrastructure needed to attract and keep manufacturing companies functioning to the maximum capacity, especially with the setting up of the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, which he described as a novel project that could propel Gombe State to economic prosperity.

The foremost industrialist praised Governor Yahaya’s business acumen and his pragmatic governance style.

“Although government has no business in investment endeavours, yet the Gombe State Governor has been exemplary in his investment drive. I commend Governor Inuwa Yahaya for doing his best in terms of laying down the policy framework for a good investment environment,” Aliko Dangote said.

He said the reduction in diesel prices by his company from over N1600/Ltr to about 1,100/ Ltr, was a patriotic gesture that would effectively lower transportation costs and subsequently reduce food prices because of the widespread impact of diesel on everyday commodities.

Dangote cited the significant contribution of diesel to transportation and on the cost of goods, particularly in urban centres, saying, by slashing its price, it will help reduce the financial burdens on consumers and foster economic stability.

“To produce anything, the major cost is diesel so when we looked at it, I said we should try to reduce the cost. Because people who have held on to the business for a very long time were profiteering, we decided that we could afford to sell diesel at N1,000 per litre. It is about 60 per cent drop; in areas like here (Gombe), Borno, Bauchi and the rest, it was selling between N1,700 to N1,800 but right now, I am sure in the next few days, you will not buy diesel at more than N1,100/ Ltr”, he said.

Governor Yahaya described Gombe State as a prime destination for investment and economic prosperity, highlighting its business-friendly environment and its status as the best state in Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.

He also stressed the abundant solid mineral resources in Gombe State and the impressive infrastructure, including the 1000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park situated near the 40-megawatt Dadinkowa power plant.

Governor Yahaya said the strategic location offered ample space for industrial expansion, ensuring access to reliable power supply and a crucial factor for sustained industrial operations.

Olusola Akintonde