Jigawa State is increasing its efforts to attract new investments as it cements its position as one of Nigeria’s most business-friendly states with improved infrastructure.
At the 13th annual BusinessDay CEO Forum held in Lagos, the Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar A. Namadi, represented by Aminu Usman, the deputy governor, reiterated the state’s commitment to transforming its economy through private-sector-led growth.
“We have created a regulatory framework and institutional environment that reduces uncertainty, guarantees access to land, and provides incentives for investors,” he said.
According to him, the state ranked second in the 2023 subnational Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) report published by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), improving from third place in 2021.
The deputy governor added that Jigawa’s proactive investment drive includes reforms backed by legislation and executive orders, the establishment of a one-stop-shop investment agency, and a clear strategy anchored on the state’s 12-Point Agenda.
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These efforts, according to Usman, reflect the government’s ambition to expand the private sector’s role in driving economic growth, job creation, and industrialisation.
The state has also embarked on significant infrastructure developments. “It is currently developing an industrial park to support micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) and large-scale manufacturers,” he said.
This industrial hub will complement an existing border export free zone in Maigatari, located along the Nigeria-Niger border, which offers trade and export opportunities into the Republic of Niger and other landlocked West African countries.
He added that Jigawa’s agricultural potential remains a key part of its investment proposition. As Nigeria’s leading wheat-producing state, it also ranks high in the production and export of hibiscus, sesame seeds, rice, watermelon, tomatoes, etc.
“Yet, much of its produce is still exported with little or no value addition, a gap the government is looking to close through agro-industrialisation.”
In the area of solid minerals, Jigawa boasts more than ten commercially viable mineral deposits, including granite, kaolin, soda ash, silica sand, copper, tin ore, and gold, he said.
“The opportunity is vast across agriculture, solid minerals, commerce, estate development, education, and health,” said Usman, urging local and foreign investors to explore the state’s potential.
With its reputation as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states, the Jigawa government believes the environment is ripe for increased investment.
“Jigawa is open for business,” Usman declared, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to inclusive development, food security, and economic diversification aligned with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
