Nigeria's Jigawa seeks investments in agri biz, offers tax holiday, other sops

Visakhapatnam: With a huge potential to become a hub for agro-industries and food processing plants, Jigawa, a State in North West Nigeria, has sought investments from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other parts of India. The State offers a plethora of opportunities to investors in rice milling, sesame, dairy and agro processing along with storage, cold chain infrastructure and sustainable farming practices like zero-based natural farming.

Jigawa offers tax holidays for agribusiness investments, land allocation for agricultural purposes, simplified business registration and licensing procedures, alignment with the newly revised Jigawa State Agricultural Policy. In a significant move to promote international agribusiness collaboration, Jigawa, one of Nigeria’s youngest and agriculturally rich States, has extended an invitation to investors to explore lucrative opportunities in agriculture and allied sectors.

The initiative was spearheaded by Jigawa State Governor Mallam Umar Namadi, who led a high-level delegation to India and participated in a focused investor meeting, hosted by GITAM deemed to be a university in association with the Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation (APCCIF) here on Friday.

The delegation included senior government officials, technical experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Jigawa Research Institute, and the Farmers and Herdsmen Management Board, all of whom underscored Jigawa's commitment to agricultural development and international cooperation.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Mallam Umar Namadi emphasised the State’s strategic initiatives to create a favorable ecosystem for agricultural investment. “Jigawa State Government is improving rural infrastructure, increasing access to financing for smallholder farmers, and adopting policies that facilitate trade and export,” the Governor stated.

He gave details on ongoing reforms such as the export promotion strategy and the comprehensivedevelopment framework that align with Nigeria’s broader national development goals. Governor Namadi elaborated on the wide range of investment incentives being offered by the state to foreign investors.

The session was presided over by GITAM Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Y Gouthama Rao, who laid emphasis on the strong potential of bilateral collaboration. “Jigawa’s economy is predominantly agrarian, contributing over 60 per cent to the State's GDP. With its strategic geographic location and export-friendly commodities such as sesame seeds, hibiscus, groundnut, rice, and wheat, Jigawa presents an ideal opportunity for Indian agripreneurs,” he stated.

The event also featured insights from Chandrasekhar, an Indian entrepreneur who successfully launched a dairy startup in Jigawa. Dr KP Kishan, Director, GITAM International Student Affairs, APCCIF Women’s Wing Chairperson Dr.Yarlagadda Geeta, Vice-Chairperson Leela Rani , GITAM School of Business faculty members, investors and industrialists participated.Jigwara Governor Mallam Umar Namadi addressing investors and academicians in Visakhapatnam on Friday