Federal and Kebbi state governments have expressed their preparation to associate with Brazil in the agricultural sector to achieve Nigeria's goal of an economy of a billion dollars by 2030.
The governor of the state of Kebbi, Comrade Nasiru Idris, who represents President Bola Tinubu, made this announcement when heading to a Brazilian delegation led by President Tinubu's special advisor, Dr. Tope Fasua, during a courtesy visit in the Government's house in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
The Brazilian business team was headed by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and the Food Supply of Brazil. The delegation also included owners of rice mills in Brazil, as well as Alhaji Faruq Gmel, the managing director of Wacot Rice Mill in Arguegu, Kebbi state.
In his speech, Governor Idris emphasized that Brazil and Nigeria have many collaboration opportunities, particularly in the agricultural sector.
According to him, “today is not a day for long speeches, but one day for the camaraderie, with vision of the future and learning. Our partners in TGI Group those who have supported through friendly policies for business to build the largest rice factory in sub -Saharan Africa will testify to what can be achieved when the government and the private sector work together.
“Our agribusiness credentials are known to the world, and it is part of our government's policy to continue supporting the agricultural sector. In that sense, there is much to learn from Brazil. The successes in agricultural energy are ambitions and Brazilian collaboration is key to this aspiration.
“Today, Kebbi is the capital of rice of Africa. Numerous delegations of African countries in the subregion have come to supplicate the successes that have allowed us to be self -sufficient in the production of rice and become a net exporter of the rest of the country and the subregion of Western Africa.
“The reforms that we have introduced to guarantee an environment that enables the business are too numerous to mention. From the acquisition of land to the resolution of disputes, Kebbi State will receive and promote companies and all its implications attending the economy.
“Nigeria's ambition to have an economy of $ 1 billion by 2030 under the renewed Esperanza's agenda of Mr. President can only be achieved through collaborations such as this and Kebbi State is always ready to play his role as a subnational government under my leadership.”
Idris added that his administration had gathered the highest level of policy and decision makers in the state to ensure that all questions were answered and all the ways for collaboration were explored.
Previously, Dr. Fasua informed the delegation that Kebbi State that shares most of the River Niger has great potential, such as the International Fishing Festival of Argos and the largest rice production in the country, stressing that there would be many new business ideas and investments that would be obtained through collaboration.
In his comment, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and the Supply of Assets of Brazilian, Oliveira, told the Governor of the state of Kebbi and the members of the Cabinet that Brazil could become the best producer and cattle in world food in 20 years due to his resilience that he will use his rich soil, population and technologies.