Bago: Saudi investors have shown interest in Niger state agric sector

Umaru Bago, governor of Niger, says investors in Saudi Arabia have shown interest in investing in agriculture and road projects in the state.

Bago spoke on Tuesday on the sideline of the “high-powered level negotiation” with Saudi Arabia-Nigeria roundtable meeting held in Mecca led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Bago said the negotiation with the investors included the dualisation of the Bida-Minna road.

The governor attributed the investors’ choice of Niger “as the state for the first pilot scheme because of our closest to the FCT, our bodies of water for irrigation”.

“We have four hydropower dams that are currently functional,” he said.

“We have bodies of streams and water. We have both River Niger and River Benue.

“We are the largest producer of sheanut and also paddy rice in Nigeria. So, this is a very opportunity and avenue to showcase ourselves, which we have done. And we have gotten interested in collaboration.”

Bago is among Nigeria’s delegation led by Tinubu attending the Saudi-Africa summit in the Middle East country.

Speaking on Sunday when he performed Umrah in Makkah, Tinubu said Nigeria’s prospect is yet to blossom to the optimal level.

He said every Nigerian must be involved if the nation must achieve its full potential.