Niger State Invites Dangote to Explore Oil in Bida Basin
By Patience Ikpeme
The Niger State Government wants the Dangote Group and other wealthy private investors to come and dig for crude oil in the Bida Basin to bring more money and jobs to the state.
The Commissioner for Trade, Investment, Industry and Private Sector Development, Hon. Aminu Suleiman Takuma, made this appeal during the “Dangote Special Day” at the just concluded Niger National Trade Fair held in Minna. He explained that the state government is using a special “One-Stop-Shop” system to make things very easy for private investors who want to help bring out the oil hiding under the ground in Niger State.
To show that the government does not want to interfere with business, the Commissioner said the state will not try to control the oil business. Instead, the government plans “to maintain only a minimal stake in the venture through a Joint Venture-Public Private Partnership arrangement.”
Takuma praised the Dangote Group for building massive factories across Nigeria, especially what he called “the world’s largest single-train refinery” in Lagos. He assured the business community that Niger State is fully ready for business and will keep making laws that protect and welcome investors in all important sectors.
Responding to the invite, the Regional Director and Senior Adviser to Aliko Dangote, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, described the Dangote Group as a “natural partner” to Niger State. She reminded everyone that the company already has a huge rice processing factory running in Wushishi, which shows they believe in the state.
She praised Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for making the state very welcoming for big businesses to invest their money, saying that “the Dangote Group remains committed to sustaining and deepening its partnership with the Niger State Government.”
Important government officials, including the Commissioners for Homeland Security, and Agriculture and Food Security, sat on the discussion panel to support the investment drive. The Emir of Minna also sent Dr. Umar Bakai to represent him at the event, which was heavily sponsored by the Dangote Group to help boost local trade.
