Governor of Borno State Babangana Zulum has commended Governor Seyi Makinde for establishing a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with locals, especially NiJi Group with a view to harnessing the potential of moribund industries in the state.
Zulum who was hosted by Makinde in Ibadan yesterday when he visited the NIJI agro-tech facilities located at km 6, Ibadan Abeokuta road, Odo-Ona, Apata, Ibadan.
Represented by his deputy, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, who received Zulum at the Ladoke Akintola Airport in Alakia, also accompanied him and his team to the Niji Group’s agricultural machinery and equipment facilities.
During the inspection, Zulum said, “I think this is the wisdom that other states need to emulate. This is a very good thing”.
Zulum reiterated that he is determined to see how the Borno State government would partner with local engineers with a view to addressing some of the state’s challenges, adding that if the country continues to produce and export, the issue of dollar scarcity would be addressed.
He said, “One of the major reasons for Nigeria’s problems is that we don’t produce. We can’t export. So, where do we get the foreign exchange?
“We shouldn’t blame the federal government because the Nigeria population is growing and we can’t produce. What we ought to have seen now is sustainable development.”
The governor promised that his team would meet with the management of Niji groups to discuss how to work together as the Borno government is prepared to invest in commercial agriculture.
Earlier, the chief executive officer of the Niji Group, Niji Lukas, said his company moved from Lagos to Ibadan over a year ago, but noted that they were concerned about changing the narration of food since 1991 of its establishment.
