Yemisi Izuora
Kebbi State government, has begun rice exportation to West and North African countries.
Speaking when he hosted the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Barr Hassan Bello, the governor of the state, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said the state has started exporting rice to Republic of Benin, Niger and Libya in the last three years.
“We are exporting rice because people from Benin Republic, Niger and Libya are buying our rice except if you are defining export as selling to the West (Europe).
Bello had visited the governor with his management team to inform the Governor about the plans to establish an Inland Container Depot (ICD) and a Truck Transit Park in the state.
The Governor however assured the Council of the readiness of his administration to support any project that will drive trade facilitation and sustain economic growth.
He described Kebbi as agrarian state which has potential in agriculture, including aquatic splendour, which makes the state as part of the Blue Sea economy.
Bagudu described the ICD and Truck Transit Park as very important projects to the state considering that it has enormous agricultural and minerals deposits.
He said that sharing borders with Niger and Benin Republic, Kebbi has an advantage of exporting commodities.
The governor also explained that the state has seven big rivers, including Argungu River which promotes the International Fishing Festival that has become a tourist destination.
Apart from being a rice producer, Kebbi, the governor said produces onions and pepper, adding that all these have made the planned Lolo Inland Container Depot and Truck Park as very important.
Bello had during the visit informed the governor of the decision to construct the ICD and Truck Park in the state.
The NSC CEO while noting that the state was strategically located said the two projects will stimulate the economy of the state with a lot of multiplier effect to the national economy.