Gombe Government Woo Investors At Lekki Free Trade Zone

The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Manassah Daniel Jatau, has visited the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the Abis Meat Farm market in Lagos, as part of efforts to woo investors to invest in Gombe.

The Lekki Free Trade Zone was established under a partnership between the Lagos State Government and a consortium of Four Multinational Chinese Companies with the aim of developing, operating and managing a modern Free Zone in accordance with international practice by optimally utilizing the advantages of Lagos as the important hub in West Africa.

During the visit at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Deputy Governor in the company of the Gombe delegates and Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Commerce met with the Managing Director and members of his management.

The Managing Director underscored the importance of partnership between Gombe State and the Free Trade Zone in exploiting the numerous socio-economic potentials of Gombe State and that of the Free Trade Zone.

Tasha .A. Tasha, the deputy governor's spokesperson, made this known in a statement on Monday.

According to Tasha, he noted that with the needed available natural resources and other things which are paramount in investment, including business incentives, security, accessibility, movement and infrastructural development, the two would benefit a lot.

"He explained that the Partnership between the Lagos state and the Chinese firm's has yielded results as many companies have been operating in the premises and are either processing raw materials for export or manufacturing products to be supplied into the Nigerian markets.

"One of the Management Staff, Mr. Oyewole Adegoke said fifty five companies are currently operating in the premises while seventeen others are under construction adding that those under construction include Dangote Group of companies, Pinnacle Gas and Oil, Sinotruck and Hidier Power.

"The Deputy Governor assured him of the availability of all he has listed as preconditions for investment, including the political will which provided the conducive atmosphere for ease of doing business and security wherein Gombe state was rated the best in Nigeria in the year 2020 and 2021 consecutively by the Presidential Committee on Ease of doing business and the immediate past Inspector General of Police respectively.

"He encouraged the management of the Free Trade Zone to visit Gombe and see things for themselves expressing belief that while in Gombe they may see other areas of investment. He invited them to be part of this year's Gombe Investment Summit which comes up in November," Tasha stated.

Meanwhile, at the Abis Farmers Market, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Emmanuel Usman Nelson, took the Deputy Governor round the company and showed him the abattoir, processing plants, Fish Ponds and the stores where the meat products were displayed.

He explained that everything needed for soup is supplied for sale for the teaming customers, stating that fish ponds are provided to supply fish, and other meat products like chickens are also supplied alongside soup assorted ingredients.

"He further explained that all the wastes are extracted through the biogas chamber where they are properly packaged in bags and sent back to farmers as organic manure, the bones are used in the manufacturing of combs, fish feeds and plates, while the horns are used in the manufacturing of gun handles and combs.

"He said, he is currently constructing a bigger firm in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory where he is expected to complement in the area of employment and service delivery to the people," Tasha added.

On his part, the Deputy Governor, who was impressed by the entrepreneurial drive of Nelson, invited him to Gombe to replicate the business and explore other business opportunities in the state.

"The Abis Farmers Market is a wholesome meat business owned by the Adamawa State indigene, Emmanuel Usman Nelson where over 500 cows are slaughtered daily alongside chickens, fish and assorted soup ingredients are supplied in the sales department.