Dangote to create 200,000 across northern Nigeria with massive investment in farming

AFRICA'S richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote has revealed plans to create over 200,000 jobs in Nigeria through investments in the agricultural sector across the northern half of the country between now and 2018.

 

Unveiling his plans at the recent Katsina State Investment and Economic Summit, Alhaji Dangote noted that the current reality in the international oil market provided the best opportunity for Nigeria to diversify the economy, leveraging on the agriculture sector. He specifically called on the state governors to take advantage of the prevailing situation and follow the lead of the federal government, which had commenced the diversification process at the national level.

 

He also advised Nigerians to encourage governments at all levels to implement reforms that would help in achieving a more diversified economy. According to the billionaire, the Dangote Group had commenced the production of rice in Jigawa State as part of this economic diversification process.

 

Alhaji Dangote said: “The Dangote Group is working to increase yield of rice per hectare from the present 1.4 tonnes to two tonnes per hectare in Jigawa State. Already, a memorandum of understanding has been signed by the Dangote Group to produce rice in Jigawa on a rice value chain, from planting to retaining.”

 

He explained that the company would be cultivating 16,000 hectares, as well as developing an out-grower scheme using the same technology and the same arrangement to produce another 16,000 hectares. According to Alhaji Dangote, it was under this same kind of situation that Brazil transformed its economy and today has become one of the leading economies in the world.