Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has assured Nigerians that the Federal
Government would remain resolute in tackling the economic challenges
facing the country.
He made the assertion today, in Kano, while declaring open the 2nd Kano
Economic and Investment Summit taking place at the Coronation Hall,
Government House, in the state capital.
Represented by the Minister of Interior, retired Lt. Gen. Abdurrahman
Dambazau, Professor Osinbajo said the Federal Government was also
committed in the fight against corruption and insecurity which were
impediments to economic prosperity.
He said: “We will remain committed on the three focused areas which
include fighting corruption, insurgency and providing employment to the
teeming number of unemployed youths in the country”.
The Vice President maintained that the Kano Investment summit was in line
with the Federal Government’s effort geared toward economic
revitalization, assuring that such initiatives would be encouraged so as
to improve the doing business climate and make life better for the people
.
He expressed the hope that the summit would come up with recommendations
that would promote investment opportunities not only in Kano State but the
country at large.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo
Udoma announced that funds have been provided in the 2017 Federal Budget
to provide infrastructure for the revival of the Free Trade Zone in Kano
to stimulate industrial activity. He added that funding has equally been
provided for the revival of the Export Expansion Grant by way of tax
relief, as a further incentive to exporters.
Senator Udoma assured that the Federal government would support Kano state
towards regain the lost glory of its major industrial estates so as to
create jobs and lift Nigerians out of poverty
“There is no doubt that Kano leather craftsmen are some of the best in the
world. We must provide the enabling environment for the leather industry
to grow and become a mark of quality recognized worldwide”, the Minister
added.
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje explained that “the idea
of conceiving this summit is to generate perspectives, strategies and best
practices that would showcase viable investment opportunities with a view
to attracting local and foreign investors for the sustainable economic
transformation of Kano State and by extension Nigeria at large”.
“Our vision is to have a private sector driven economy and in line with
the Federal and State Governments resolutions to improve Nigeria’s ranking
on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index”, he added.
To fast track development in the state, he stated that his administration
has made substantial and far reaching investments in agriculture and
infrastructure, while effort is ongoing towards addressing the state’s
power challenge, which has crippled many industries.
Dr. Ganduje further remarked his administration has secured a of $1.85
million loan from China, for the Kano intra city light rail project, which
would go a long way in enhancing commercial activities in the state
capital.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III on his part, called on the
19 northern governors to invest on the Small Scale Enterprises, to make
life better for people in the region.
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III said, “our people are not greedy like our elite
who would want to have all, support the common man with small business to
enable them have something to fall back on, and when you do this they
would be happy, and we would have peace and decent society”.