I am delighted to join you today on the occasion of the commissioning ceremony of the One Billion fully automated Warehouse, constructed here in Keffi by the Newpal Nigeria Limited.
Let me, on behalf of the Government and people of Nasarawa State, warmly welcome other stakeholders to this all-important event. I commend the Newpal Nigeria Limited for initiating this laudable project, aimed at adding value to agricultural products processing and Warehousing.
I am informed that this Industrial site with an output capacity of twenty (20) tons per hour was constructed by a private company and consist of a production facility, state of the art laboratory and other business units. I have no doubt that with the high class processing and production facilities, this outfit will add value to the agricultural food supply chain that will meet international quality requirements.
I have no doubt that with the high class processing and production facilities, this outfit will add value to the agricultural food supply chain that will meet international quality.
I note with appreciation that aside from processing, Newpal Nigeria Limited is also engaged in exportation of agricultural products such as cashew nuts, sesame seeds and associated products to other parts of the world. The benefits that Nasarawa State will drive from this investment in terms of employment generation and improvement in the living condition of the people within the North geopolitical zone are enormous.
You are already aware that our State is endowed with enormous agricultural potentials considering the abundance of both natural and human resources and availability of land for agricultural production. The State is blessed with about 2.7 million hectares of land, out of which 750,000 are arable in nature and suitable for cultivation of varieties of crops for both domestic consumption and export.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is pertinent to reiterate that this Administration will continue to encourage private investment and partnership towards accelerating agricultural development and industrialization of the State. This has become necessary now more than before in view of the dwindling revenue accruals from the Federation accounts which calls for concerted efforts to diversify sources of our revenue and synergizing with private partners to drive the industrial development of Nasarawa State.
Accordingly, this Administration is committed to enter into partnership with private development partners in the State. This is anchored on our belief that investors play significant role in stimulating the economy. It is for this reason that the State Government entered into partnership with mega companies such as Olam Farms, which today has become one of the major producers of rice in the West Africa sub-region. Today, not less than 10,000 youths in the State are employed by Olam Farms.
In the same vein, Nasarawa State Government also entered into a bi-partite agreement with the Dangote Group which is currently cultivating a sugarcane plantation and sitting sugar refinery in the State. Efforts are also being intensify by the Company to invest in Rice Production along the riverine areas of Toto and Nasarawa Local Government Areas. These endeavours have the potentials of employing over 30,000 of our youths, thereby adding value to our socio-economic activities.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me call on more investors to come and invest in the various sectors of the State economy. On our part, Government will guarantee necessary security to secure the investment of willing investors. As you are aware, the presence of Army Barracks in Doma, Air Force Base in Lafia and additional Police Mobile Squadron in Akunza are all intended to further strengthen our security architecture to promote socio-economic activities in the State.
Before concluding this address, let me reiterate the resolve of this Administration to ensure the take-off of the Incubation center in Lafia. In this regard, efforts have been concluded by Government to provide necessary access road, electricity and other facilities. It is my belief that the Centre will serve as the needed vehicle for the incubation of small scale businesses and hatching them into large scale industries through facilitation of soil-loans from Bank of Industries and Grants from other Federal Government Agencies. It is expected that our efforts in this direction will create wealth, generate employment and enhance the growth and development of Nasarawa State.
At this juncture, let me once again, commend the Newpal Nigeria Limited for sitting this billion naira industry in our dear State. I look forward to more areas of partnership and collaboration in our determination to engender the economic development of the State.
On this note, it is my pleasure to commission the Automated Newpal Nigeria Limited Warehouse, Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Thank you and God bless us all.
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