Exclusive

Legacy projects: Governor Sule's industrialization agenda 

By Ali Abare 

It's a known fact that Governor Abdullahi Sule came into power in May 2019 with an agenda to industrialize Nasarawa State.  Put simply, Governor Sule came with a vision to transform the state from an agrarian economy to a manufacturing-based economy.

The driving force behind this vision is, of course, the Governor's expansive private sector background, coupled with his desire to create jobs, generate internal revenue, and stimulate economic growth. 

Industrialization is a process, meaning that it is a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular objective. This is where Governor Sule's invaluable experience and reputation from the organized private sector is making the difference.  

Indeed, for anyone without the necessary understanding and knowledge about the process of industrialization, problems are bound to be encountered on what steps need to be taken. The Governor came from a background of manufacturing, well grounded and imbued with a vision to transform the economy of Nasarawa State. 

With industrialization being a process and not an end in its self, Governor Sule began by taking the right steps moving forward. These critical but necessary steps informed the components of the industrialization agenda of his administration. 

First, the berth of the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), which is a policy document that outlines the state's development blueprint and sets the stage for economic prosperity.

Then, the establishment of the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA), an agency set up to attract investors and facilitate the establishment of companies in the state.

Knowing the critical role infrastructure plays in attracting investment, the Governor prioritized the development of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and utilities, to support industrial growth. The 15km Sisin Baki-Farin Ruwa road is meant to opened up the corridor leading to the resource laden Farin Ruwa, particularly with the revitalization of the Farin Dam for irrigation agriculture and the prospect of generating hydropower by the Nasarawa State Government through a PPP arrangement. 

Also, the 25km Mararaba-Udege road is meant to facilitate access to the minerals rich areas in Nasarawa Local Government Area and to attract extractive and mining industries to the area.

The Governor Sule administration has innovatively floated the youth revolving scheme in partnership with the Bank of Industry, setting up a N500m facility as support for Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs). The administration is implementing programmes to support SMEs, including access to finance, training, and mentorship.

Another milestone in driving the industrialization agenda of the administration is creating enabling business environment, with NASIDA leading the way towards ensuring that investors find Nasarawa State attractive.

Most significantly, the Governor Sule administration constituted the Nasarawa State Enabling Business Environment Council, chaired by the Governor himself, paving the way for the state to participate in the World Bank programme, the States Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER).

Under the SABER, the Nasarawa State Government, through NASIDA, is undertaking a series of reforms geared towards opening up the state and making Nasarawa an investment destination.

Some of these reform areas include the development of the Land Acquisition Framework, which will ensure that the state has a standard procedure to be followed for land acquisition for mass production.

Also, the Development of Framework For Responsible and Inclusive Land Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA), which seeks to clearly identify the role of land development in investment promotion and the associated risks to ensure that land acquisition and resettlement for large-scale agribusiness investments are undertaken in line with established international good practices and guaranteed shared benefits between private investors and surrounding communities.

Just recently, and as part of the successes recorded by the administration in enabling business reforms, Nasarawa State was listed among other states in the country to have secured a $4m facility, which Governor Sule said would be deployed towards constructing the Multi Outdoor Court, a one-stop shop where issues about legalities, registration, issues concerning taxes, and even locating where investment would be sited, would be resolved in one building.  

Another major accomplishment recorded by the administration is the establishment of the Nasarawa Technology Village (NTV) estimated at over N12bn also under a PPP arrangement. 

The NTV, located along the Abuja-Keffi Road corridor, is a pioneering project aimed at fostering economic growth and job creation through strategic public-private partnerships. Spearheaded by the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), the project was conceived to address the state’s infrastructure deficit and drive sustainable development.

The village spans 67 hectares in Aso Pada, Karu Local Government Area, and includes a tech hub in collaboration with Decagon Institute to nurture local talent and innovation. Despite initial challenges in securing financing and navigating regulatory processes, the project received a groundbreaking N12.5 billion guarantee line from InfraCredit, ensuring its expansion and sustainability. Presently, Nasarawa Technology Village stands as a testament to the transformative power of collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Just recently also, through the intervention of the InfraCredit and French Development Agency (FDA), the Governor Sule administration secured a grant worth four thousand euros meant to facilitate the hiring of world class consultants who would design the about 8km Aso-Pada toll road project that will open up the Karu-Abuja corridor.

With his manifest determination and commitment to drive the industrialization agenda of his administration, Governor Sule is leaving no stone unturned in the quest to better the economy of the state. Of course, these efforts are already bearing results, as can be seen in the establishment of numerous private investments in the areas of modern agriculture and mining. 

However, a turning point in the journey of industrialization under the Governor Sule administration was reached after passing the Nasarawa State Executive Order One,  mandating investors coming into the state to set up processing plants.

Indeed, the passage of the Executive Order One is the administration's masterstroke that is revolutionizing the mining industry not only in Nasarawa State buy across the country.

While commissioning a multi-million naira tin mining and processing factory in Jida, Wamba Local Government Area, constructed by a private firm, Matrix Energy Group, the Governor explained the rationale behind the passage of the order.

"When we came up with the Executive Order One, a lot of people misunderstood us. We are encouraging investors.  We are not sending investors away. The idea is to encourage investors to come and do their mining because it is on the exclusive list.  It belongs to the Federal Government.  We can't stop any license that is coming to mine in our state. But what we are saying is that as you are coming, please also carry out the processing activity here. That way, the reclamation of the land would be easier," he stated.

The inroads recorded by the Governor Sule administration through its industrialization agenda through agro-allied industries and especially through the passage of the Nasarawa State Executive Order One are there and visible for all to see. 

The world's largest lithium mining and processing factory, the Avatar Energy in Ende, Nasarawa Local Government, Multiverse Mining Company, with the company currently developing its zinc and lead mine site at Abuni in Awe Local Government Area. As part of the expansion of its mine properties the company has obtained exploration licenses to cover tin ore, tantalite ore, and copper ore.

As already mentioned, Governor Sule recently commissioned a tin mining and processing factory in Jida, Wamba Local Government Area. He equally midwived a collaboration between the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Nasarawa State Government and a private company, Bobtrack Tractors, a division of Saint Bob Motors Limited to start the manufacturing and assembling of tractors in Lafia.

Just this week, Governor Sule witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with another private firm, Gudale Farms and Processing Nigeria Limited, for the establishment of the state-of-the-art sesame seeds processing plant in Azuba, Lafia that would process 10 tons of sesame seeds per hour.

Most recently, Governor Sule hosted the President/CEO of Non-Wood Pulp & Paper Making lndustry Nigeria limited, Abdullahi M. Girel, who is seeking for 10,000 hectares of land in order to establish a pulp and paper mill as well as the cultivation of raw materials such as bamboo, kenaf, and other fibrous plants required for the mill.

Overall, Governor Sule's industrialization agenda is designed to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and improve the standard of living for the people of Nasarawa State.

For those who may not be aware, industrialization has numerous benefits that can transform a state's economy and improve its citizens' quality of life.

Most significantly, industrialization leads to increased efficiency and productivity, resulting in higher output and economic growth. Industrialization creates new job opportunities in various sectors, reducing unemployment and poverty.

As industrialization increases economic growth, people's standard of living improves, and they enjoy better healthcare, education, and infrastructure, especially as investors embark on their corporate social responsibility in host communities. 

It also creates new opportunities for education and skills training, helping people acquire new skills and knowledge. Industrialization creates new opportunities for social mobility, allowing people to improve their socio-economic status.

Even the environment stands to benefit as industrialization leads to improved infrastructure and leads to investments in infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and transportation systems, which improve connectivity and facilitate economic growth.

The industrialization agenda of the present administration under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule is therefore all-encompassing, permeating every initiative of the administration as the pieces continue to fall in places and for the growth and development of Nasarawa State. 

Abare is the Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Nasarawa State.