Entretien exclusif de Son Excellence Ummar Dikko Radda, Gouverneur éxecutif de l’état de Katsina, Nigeria, en amont d’Ambition Africa !
Dans un entretien exclusif, Son excellence Ummar Dikko Radda PHD. CON. Executive Governor of Katsina State, Nigeria, partage avec Africa Mutandi & dans le cadre de sa participation à Ambition Africa, sa vision et ses ambitions pour l’état du Katsina.
Entretien
I – What are the key strengths of Katsina State?
Katsina State’s strengths are multifaceted, positioning it as a premier investment destination in Northern Nigeria. They can be categorized into four core areas:
1. Agricultural Dominance:
a. Katsina is Nigeria’s largest producer of cotton, providing a raw material base for textile and garment manufacturing.
b. It is a major hub for staple crops like millet, sorghum, maize, groundnuts, and beans, solidifying its role in national food security.
c. The state has a significant and thriving livestock farming sector.
2. Abundant Natural Resources:
a. The state is endowed with over 25 non-oil mineral deposits, including high-value resources such as gold, iron ore, kaolin, limestone, and marble, offering vast potential for the mining and industrial sectors.
3. Strategic Location & Market Access:
a. With a population of over 10 million people, it offers a substantial internal consumer market.
b. It shares a 152-kilometer international border with the Republic of Niger, providing strategic access to cross-border trade and the broader West African market under the ECOWAS trade framework.
4. A Progressive, Investor-Friendly Environment:
a. The state government has implemented robust reforms, including the Katsina Geographic Information System (KATGIS) for efficient land administration (C of O in 30 days) and a streamlined business licensing system that has reduced processing time and costs by 30%.
b. The Katsina Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA) acts as a dedicated one-stop shop to guide and support investors, ensuring a seamless investment journey.
c. The state is ranked among the top 10 in Nigeria for ease of doing business, backed by over 20 pro-investment policies enacted into law to prevent policy reversals.
II – What are your expectations in terms of economic partnerships?
The Katsina State Government seeks strategic economic partnerships that align with its development goals and leverage its inherent strengths. We expect partnerships that will:
a. Drive Industrialization and Value Addition: We seek partners for establishing manufacturing plants, particularly in textiles (leveraging our cotton production), Agro-processing, and construction materials (using our mineral deposits like limestone and kaolin).
b. Develop Infrastructure and Energy: We welcome Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for road infrastructure, inland container terminals, and logistics hubs. Given our high solar potential (over 8 hours of sunlight daily), we are particularly interested in partnerships for renewable energy projects, including solar power farms and off-grid solutions.
In essence, we look for investors who will not just extract value but build it partners who will establish long-term, sustainable operations that create jobs and transfer knowledge.
III – What results do you expect from these partnerships?
These strategic partnerships are designed to yield transformative results for both the investors and the state, creating a clear win-win scenario:
a. Accelerated Economic Diversification and GDP Growth: We expect a significant shift from a primarily agrarian economy to a diversified one with strong industrial and service sectors, boosting the state’s GDP beyond the current N2.5 trillion.
b. Massive Job Creation and Skills Development: The establishment of new industries and the expansion of existing ones will create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities for our growing population, reducing unemployment and fostering skills acquisition.
c. Increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR): Successful business operations will expand the state’s tax base, providing the government with more resources to reinvest in critical infrastructure, social services, and further business-enabling reforms.
d. Infrastructure Development and Technological Advancement: Partnerships, especially in energy and logistics, will directly result in improved infrastructure, providing reliable power and efficient transport networks that benefit all sectors of the economy.
e. Sustainable Community Development: Ultimately, these partnerships are expected to uplift living standards by stimulating local economies, improving access to services, and creating a more prosperous and stable society for the people of Katsina State.
Visit le site gouvernemental du Katsina :