The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has reaffirmed his administration resolve to create enabling environment for local and Foreign Direct Invest (FDI) to flourish in the state.
He made the assertion during the weekend when he commissioned Top Pan Nigeria Ltd., a multi-billion Naira carton making factory owned by Lee Group of Companies, at Tokarawa, in the outskirts of the state capital.
This is coming shortly after the state government donated an expanse of land to the Lee Group, at Bagadawa, Dawakin Tofa local government area, to enable it to set up an industrial park, which aims to turn the state’s economy around.
“As one of Nigeria’s foremost commercial centres and the most populous state in the country, we as government, have a duty to ensure ease of doing business so that we can move the state to the centre of commercial and industrial enterprise in the country.
“When more industries are established, the economy keeps growing, the government gets revenue to address development issues and more of our youth get jobs to do,” said Ganduje.
Governor Ganduje, therefore, described the establishment of Top Pan Nigeria Ltd. in Kano, as an indication of good economic sense because of its value addition to the local economy, since companies in the state will no longer travel out to acquire packaging for finished goods.
According to him, “More are opening in Kano and they need packaging facility for their products. Top Pan Nigeria Ltd., is, therefore, a big leap in the right direction.”
The Governor, who had earlier on inspected the company’s production lines, was delighted that it has employed a majority of its personnel from Kano, enjoining the workers to maintain their dedication so as to keep the company afloat.
In his remarks, the Co-chair, Lee Group, Ahmadu Haruna Zago, disclosed that the company was established to provide high-quality packaging solutions for the groups’ and other industries’ needs.
“Right now, all our raw materials are obtained from Lagos and as you can see, almost all of our staff are youths from Kano. Our target is to create jobs, through our companies, for at least 50, 000 people,” he emphasized.
Ahmadu, who thanked the government for encouraging the Lee Group, through several interventions, however, urged the Ganduje administration to put more effort towards addressing the challenge of water supply facing some companies belonging to his group.
On his part, the Managing Director, Top Pan Nigeria Ltd., Mr Ahmed Kodami, promised to ensure high-quality products for the local market as well as good corporate citizenship.
PIAK
