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By Umar Egbunu Muhammed, Lafia
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has
applauded president Muhammudu Buhari for approving the setting up of the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital.
Similarly, he urged investors to come to the state and invest, assuring them that the state capital is very safe owing to the relative peace being enjoyed across the 13 local government areas of the state.
The governor, who gave the commendation while inaugurating, the Lafia City Mall for business, on Monday, said the commissioning of the edifice, is a testimony of the prevailing peace in the state.
He said: “I am extremely happy when I woke up this morning. In fact, last night I received the approval from Mr. President Muhamadu Buhari for the setting up of the agricultural machinery and development in Lafia, the state capital.”
Sule affirmed that, there was no better time for any investor that is interested in doing business in Nasarawa State than now, that his administration has worked tirelessly to ensure that there is peace and security for businesses to thrive.
While thanking the owners of the mall for undertaking such capital intensive venture, in Lafia, Sule reiterated that, his administration will continue to put measures in place, for the benefit of the people.
He, however, applauded the chief executive officer of the Lafia City Mall, Mr. Umaru Emmanuel, for his concern for the plight of the youths and for the need to impact skills on youths of the state, in order to make them useful not only to themselves but the society.
The governor used the opportunity of the event, to disclose plans by his administration, to establish to industrial zones in Karu and Lafia local government areas.
He informed that, with the Lafia Technical Institute completed, his administration is approaching the BPP, with a view to equipping the various workshops in the institute, namely ICT, electrical installation, fitter machinist, welders, fabrication, carpentry, cabinet makers, motor mechanics, among others, with a view to impacting desirable skills in youths, as well as graduates who remain unemployable.
He added that, following the establishment of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), the government went on to sign an MoU on the 13, 000 hectares of land in Gurku/Kabusu, which has also been earmarked for industrial use.
“I appreciate President Buhari for giving the approval for the setting up of the new technical institute in Lafia,” he added.
“I want to thank you, the CEO of Wave Mart Group, for your continuous believe and trust in Nasarawa State. I want to thank you also for giving us the opportunity to prove to the world, that indeed, Nasarawa is safe for investment,” the governor said.
Earlier, Chairman of the Wave Mart Group, Umaru Emmanuel, said with the commissioning of the Lafia City Mall, brought the number of investments by his firm to three, stressing that, with Lafia now a city, it can also boasts of a mall, a feature of the modern day city.
Emmanuel dismissed insinuations suggesting that, the North is not safe for doing business, adding that, for the over 7 years he has invested in Nasarawa State, he had no reason to regret.
The Wave Mart Group chairman, however appealed to the governor, to roll out a deliberate plan in which youths of the state, will be impacted with necessary skills to make them employable.
In a goodwill message, the Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage (rtd), commended the owners of the mall, for beautifying the city of Lafia and for making it possible for the people to shop under a conductive atmosphere.
The royal father, in order to show further appreciation, bestowed a traditional title on the owner of the mall, Umaru Emmanuel, as the new Dangatan Lafia.
