President Bola Tinubu is set to launch an Agro Processing Zone and the Minna Airport in Niger State on Monday 11. March, 2024
This announcement was made by Governor Mohammed Bago in Minna, the capital of Niger State, during a ceremony where he was honoured as the Grand Patron of the Niger State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
Journalists were given a tour of the airport and the agro-processing zone, both of which are primed for launch by President Tinubu.
The governor revealed that the airport stands at an impressive 99 percent completion rate, with only minor clean-up operations remaining.
He stated that with approximately 1,000 hectares of land available, the state is poised to become a major player in the North Central aero hub.
He said that drip irrigation will be employed for greenhouses within the agro-processing zone, marking what is anticipated to become the largest such facility on the African continent.
Bago Further explained that a dedicated area within the airport will facilitate the swift transportation of fresh vegetables and fruits both domestically and internationally.
Governor Bago also stated that there are another 1,000 hectares on the other side of the aisle, besides the first 1,000 hectares that would be used for dairy products and exported to other states and across the world.
“On the other side of the land, there is another 1,000 hectares where we are going to have dairy products.
“The meat and everything leaving here will be moved to the rest of the world. You know Niger State sells an average of half a million cattle to Nigerians and outside Nigeria daily.
“So, I will have to redirect it in a way that you don’t need to transport these cattle at all and in Niger State you can take the meat that is frozen anywhere and it will create employment, create a value chain” Bago said.
By Chris Johnson
