The Kaduna State Government has attracted investment worth of over $500 million within two years, governor Nasir El-Rufai has said.
The Governor while speaking as a Pannelist with some select governors at the Direct Investors summit in Abuja on Monday on the topic:”Doing Business in states-Opportunities and Incentives” said despite fragments of concerns of in security in few parts of the states ,the state is always a delight for investors.
Governor El-Rufai said,”In the last two years,the investors have poured in more than $500 million, and at a time the country was in recession,Kaduna was growing.So,we must continue to improve on security,but more than that perception has to be well managed.”
The Governor said although there are concerns of insecurity,the state has also been attracting investments ,as he confirmed he is open as a number one marketer and promoter of investments in the state.
”Despite all the concerns,we would soon host the largest fertilizer company in the world -OCG of Morroco,has chosen to invest and site a facility in Kaduna,and build a fertilizer plant in Kaduna.”El-Rufai said.
In further clarification,the Governor explained that nsecurity in some parts of the states is not in an entire states.But an outsider looking to invest would think it is an entire country.
Speaking further on the security concerns of the state,he said;”46 000 sqkm2,is a very massive land mass,which is two and half size compared to all the states in the South East.We have had since we came into office we have had ethnic and religious crisis in the states and we have contained that and the state is quite.”
According to El-Rufai,”We have the challenge of banditry in Birnin Gwari,Cattle rustlers,Kidnappers that are almost of Fulani extraction,but we are addressing that concerns. All these issues should be addressed as a National Security Emergency situation,and be confronted the way we confronted Boko Haram.”
He pointed out that the issue is being handled, working collaboratively with the federal Government to address such concerns.
The Governor said,”We have made presentations to the federal Government on the issue,Military has been deployed,and we hope that the issue would be sorted out as well.We are addressing the concerns appropriately working with the federal Government.
On key efforts to address concerns of insecurity,he said,”We are putting Close Circuit Camera in Kaduna Metropolis to improve security.We are investing in security.”
Governor El-Rufai remarked that,”We have also bough drones that could fly across the states,purchased vehicles for surveillance and tools for the police to improve their work. There is a huge improvement,but security is always a work in progress.”
In his remarks at the Panel,the Anambra State Deputy Governor,Nkem Okeke said despite the not being blessed with so much land mass,the state is improving vibrancy on economic scale.
He appealed to the federal Government to support the state with power supply in Nnewi industrial cluster to ensure industrialists sustain their economy and create wealth for the economy.
”Anambra State has 3rd Largest GDP per capital in Nigeria. The Entrepreneurs in Nnewi are asking for power,and once we give them that support the sky is their limit”
HARRISON EDEH, ABUJA
