InvestJigawa And Matters Arising -By Saifullahi Attahir Wurno

“…..In the next 25 years, that Jigawa state should be the preferred investment destination in Nigeria“. Sule Lamido

It was on 4th Of June 2024 that the Jigawa state investment Agency with collaboration of other key economic sectors convened a summit in order to create more awareness on how to make easy access to small credits and art attraction of foreign investment.

The summit was gracefully attended by many dignitaries across the state ranging from various Agencies concerns with the investment in the state and the private sectors that are involved in the provision of jobs opportunities for our army of unemployed youths.

Summit like these were crucial to highlight key areas that need urgent investment in Jigawa state that would served as the catalyst for job creation, improving the economic indices, and at attracting more internally generated revenue (IGR) for the state.

I was delighted by a speech by Mal Audu Ahmadu from CBN, who had highlighted the role played by the commercial banks that hindered small enterprises access to loans because of high rate of interest amounting to over 30 percent instead of more tolerable 25 percent or less.

The commercial banks created other quasi- bureaucracy formalities that prevent local investors to get easy loans by making it necessary to present collaterals asset sometimes demanding they should be in the Nations capital Abuja or other unreachable terms.

Although many banks were invited, but the commercial bank Zenith Limited required special mention for not only been the only bank honoured the invitation but by giving the analysis of it’s activities over the years in Jigawa state that are aimed at improving the standard of living of the common man in the state. Specially designed program called Z- Women was formulated by the bank to give medium term credit to women interested in domestic marketing.

Other key dignitaries in the summit who were among the frontiers as local investors include; Dr Sambo of Sambo Hospital Limited, Dr. Yamuna Kani of Albarka Hospital limited, Mallam Umar Babayaro of Limawa table waters, and Mallam Hassan Hashim from Hasina Confectionery Limited.

Another key guest was the CEO of the renowned Bizi Mobile Cashless Consultancy Limited, Mallam Aminu Bizi. He was instrumental in the provision of millions of jobs in the technology sector across many States in the Northern Nigeria through mobilization, marketing, and public awareness for using POS services during the early CBN introduction of the cashless policy.

Aminu Bizi other ventures include; Bizipay Fintech Account, NASIA health insurance, Jigawa JICHMA health insurance, and Jigawa Palliative shops. All these were his endeavor to provide jobs for the unemployed youths in the state through partnership with the state government.

Jigawa state was in deer need of investment, and it was the unfortunate low profile that causes the poor turnout of foreign investors. But with the appointment of the current Director General of the Agency Hajiya Fureira Jumare, many positive strides were been carried out to attract potential investors in to the state.

For the benefit of the outsiders, Jigawa state is one of the most peaceful state in the whole country with political stability that would protect the investment of capital ventures. The state has a population of over 6.5 million people which is a readily available market for any investment and cheap labour for manufacturing.

In 2018, World Bank rank Jigawa state the second among state with ease of doing business. The state has a rainfed land of over 1.9 million hectares of which 400,000 is Fadama readily for rice farming. The state is largely Agrarian with vast land that fruitfully yield Sesame, grains, Hibiscus, and tomatoes, and Onions. Jigawa is bless with about 4 major markets that has vast network linking the state to others and to international markets like Niger and Cameroon. The market include; Sara, Gujungu, Maigatari, and Hadejia.

Jigawa state have over 22,000 square kilometers of land, have over 3000 km of road network, and a state of the art International Airport, all those are led down by the current and previous administrations to bolster the economic indices of the state and to attract foreign investors.

The InvestJigawa was founded in 2013 after the first economic investment summit during the leadership of Governor Sule Lamido ( Father of modern Jigawa). And 7 years down the lane, with the appointment of the current DG she strive to create a commendable 5-year strategic plan (2021-2026) for the InvestJigawa journey.

The roadmap would constitute a public private partnership (PPP), comprehensive development framework( CDF) that would revive key employment avenues like ; MSMEs, tourism, solid minerals mining, and renewable solar energies in addition to the already established Agriculture.

Jigawa state is aim at attracting at least 1 billion USD and creates 2500 jobs by the end of 2030. Thanks to other investment during the previous administrations like Kila Cassava processing plant, Hadejia rice mills, Gagarawa Sugarcane plants, Gagarawa industrial park, and Dutse ceramic processing company among others.

Saifullahi Attahir Wurno wrote from Dutse.
Can be reach via Saifullahiattahir93@gmail.com