By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Niger state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has urged the German Agency for International Development (GIZ) to take advantage of the untapped potential in the state’s agricultural sector to create free trade zones.
Bago stated this when he received on a courtesy visit, a team from the GIZ on Monday in Government House, Minna.
According to him, the state has been a victim of raw exploitation for decades.
“We think that before exploitation, there needs to be a value chain in terms of processing.
“Clustering brings value and development. This is why we want to form free zones so local entrepreneurs can have value for whatever they produce. We have located three, one in Tafa, Minna, and Bida.”
Bago, who said that the state requires human capital development, sought collaboration with the GIZ to develop skills in women and youth.
He also urged the GIZ to support the state government in developing careers, especially in sciences and medicine.
Bago further urged the GIZ to support the state government in creating a database of indigent residents in the state and ways it can improve their livelihood.
On his part, the Cluster Coordinator and Head of Program at GIZ-SEDIN, Markus Wauschkukn said the GIZ was moving its intervention into a new phase which will be piloted from 2023-2026.
The program tagged “Sustainable And Inclusive Economic Development for Decent Employment in Nigeria” will address issues of access to finance and new models of access to finance.
He disclosed that the GIZ has come up with a new agricultural program that will focus more on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and their skills.
“The focus will shift from a pure value chain oriented program to a business and skills centered program.
“We’ll continue with access to finance and policy reforms done closely with the planning commission.”
