In an ambitious move set to transform the agricultural landscape of Niger State, President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to inaugurate a cutting-edge agricultural processing zone alongside the remodeled Minna International Airport on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Revealing details of the groundbreaking project during an inspection on Saturday, March 9, 2024, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru-Bago, disclosed that approximately 2,000 hectares of land would be dedicated to the agro-processing zone.
Within this vast expanse, 1,000 hectares will be allocated for drip irrigation and greenhouses, while an additional 1,000 hectares will be specifically earmarked for processing dairy products.
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Governor Bago emphasized the strategic significance of the project, highlighting plans to collaborate with foreign partners and utilize water piped from the Shiroro Dam to support farmers at the site. “We are constructing about 140 kilometers of water irrigation channels to this place from Shiroro Dam,” he affirmed.
Furthermore, Governor Bago underscored the transformative potential of the remodeled Minna International Airport, which is nearing completion. With the capacity to process and transport frozen meat, the airport is poised to revolutionize agricultural exports and create employment opportunities along the value chain.
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, who was present during the inspection, commended the governor’s vision and the state’s commitment to infrastructural development. “The massive transformation ongoing in this place speaks volumes about the commitment of the present administration in the state,” he remarked.
The inauguration of the agricultural processing zone and the remodeled Minna International Airport heralds a new era of agricultural innovation and economic growth in Niger State, positioning it as a key player in the regional agricultural sector.
