All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met with business leaders from Northern Nigeria Saturday night in Kano where he assured the business community of a better business environment through the implementation of well-thought-out policies.
At the meeting Tinubu assured them he will revive dead and ailing manufacturing companies in Kano and across the country.
At a forum to share insights with the Northern business community, business leaders and captains of industry from across the North openly endorsed the APC presidential candidate and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
At a forum attended by the APC National Chairman, Senator Adamu Abdullahi, Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Shettima, Governor Ganduje of Kano, and seven other governors, the business leaders said with his private sector background, Asíwájú Tinubu would drive the nation’s economy well.
Governor Ganduje said Kano and Lagos have always maintained a long-standing relationship which will be strengthened under Tinubu whom he labeled a Kano man.
Ganduje said as governor of Lagos State, Tinubu ran a pan-Nigeria cabinet that grew the state in all indices of governance and economy.
While assuring the northern business leaders of a better business environment with well-thought-out policies that will revitalize industries and open up new opportunities, Tinubu identified the link between Kano as a center of commerce and his economic plan for Nigeria.
He said: “There is a strong nexus between the place of Kano as a center of prosperity and my plan for Nigeria.
“What I pledge is a revamped economy that will renew the hope of our people.
“Our country needs multiple centers of prosperity, and we intend to achieve that by adding value across all sectors of our economy.
“As I said during my speech at the Arewa House on Monday, Nigeria is sitting on a goldmine.
“There is no state in Nigeria that is lacking in one resource or the other. We are determined to explore and exploit these resources to the maximum benefit of our people. Kano, for example, has huge agricultural potential and important mineral resources underneath its ground like gold, silver, nickel, tin ore, and columbite. Each of these, if properly harnessed, can add significantly to our economy as a country.
The APC flagbearer added that Kano’s arable land and its comparative advantage in agriculture will be further expanded to make the state and northern region industrial hubs in sub-Saharan Africa.
“The state’s vast arable land and other agricultural potentials, if added to its population will make Kano a force to reckon with in the sub-Saharan African agro-market.
“Those who listen to my speech in Kaduna would have heard about my plan for agriculture. Aside from working with the private sector to make input available, that would guarantee greater yield, among other incentives, we will ensure all categories of farmers have easy access to finance through appropriate government and private sector initiatives.
“We have seen the wonders from the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme, and the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative. We will consolidate those gains. Kano’s famous dams such as Tiga, Chalawa Gorge, Thomas, Kusalla, etc that are not being maximally tapped will get special attention from my government. We will invest in the expansion of irrigation land, and channelization of the water, among other initiatives that will ensure we cultivate these lands all year round.
“We will not stop investing and boosting our agricultural potentials, we will add value throughout the value chain.
Through Commodity Exchange markets, we will link markets like Dawanau in Kano and Gujungu in Jigawa with international markets and boost return on investment for our farmers. The overall aim is to move the nation from import oriented to an export-oriented economy where grains from Kano will be exported to the world market rather than us buying from other countries.
“I know of the commercial exploits of some of you, traders and businessmen in Kwari Textile Market, Sabongari Market, Singer Market, and the famous grain market in Dawanau which transacts with the rest of West Africa. These commercial activities alone can provide the state with enough IGR to maintain itself with the right support and policies.
“Beyond trading and commerce, I have a special interest in addressing the problem of the dead or comatose Kano industrial estates in Sharada, Bompai, Panshekara, Jogana, etc, which were vibrant in the 70s and 80s. We understand the reason why those companies collapsed and we have the plan to revive them and make them competitive.
“We will provide incentives for industrial development nationwide through institutions like the Bank of Industry. There will be a deliberate policy to create industrial hubs and free zones specific to every region. For Kano, we will give attention to agro-allied industries such as textiles, tomato paste, rice processing, animal feeds, etc, in line with the state’s competitive advantages.”
