Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has inaugurated steering and technical committees to drive large-scale agricultural investments in the state.
These committees will oversee the implementation of the Framework for Responsible Investment in Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA).
Speaking at the Government House in Lafia during the inauguration, Governor Sule emphasized the importance of agriculture in the state’s economic development. He expressed confidence that the full implementation of FRILIA would attract private investments and ensure that both investors and local communities benefit fairly.
“The FRILIA will make Nasarawa State more attractive to private investors and help minimize conflicts between communities and investors, as well as address herder-farmer conflicts in the state,” Sule remarked.
He reassured that his administration will continue to support agribusiness enterprises, stressing that the sector is key to ensuring food security and generating wealth for the community.
The governor further noted that commercial agribusinesses in Nigeria are increasingly adopting backward integration strategies due to foreign exchange challenges. Many companies are now focusing on expanding local operations, driving up the demand for fertile land.
As part of these efforts, Sule announced that a new rice mill with an annual capacity of 60,000 tons will be established in the Akunza area. The company behind the mill has already expressed interest in acquiring land for rice cultivation in Assakio and Doma.
During the event, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Steering Committee, thanked Governor Sule for the appointment and pledged his commitment to ensuring the success of FRILIA.
Akabe stressed that prioritizing agriculture is essential for any nation to effectively address poverty and hunger, and vowed to work diligently towards achieving FRILIA’s goals.
Earlier, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Chairman of the Technical Committee and Managing Director/CEO of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), stated that the formation of the committees marks a key step in meeting the state’s requirements for participation in the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) program for 2024.