Nasir Idris of Kebbi, says the state is ready for Nigeria’s ambition to have a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2030 under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
By Ibrahim Bello
Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi, says the state is ready for Nigeria’s ambition to have a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2030 under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Idris made the statement when he received a delegation from Brazil, who visited him as part of Nigeria- Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism at Government House, Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
“Nigeria’s ambition to have a one trillion-dollar economy by 2030 under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President can only be achieved through collaborations like this and Kebbi is ever ready to play its part as a subnational government under my leadership.
“I have assembled in this room the highest level of policy and decision making body in the state to ensure that all questions are answered and all avenues for collaboration are explored,” he said.
On collaboration with Brazil, Idris noted that there were similarities and historical ties between Nigeria and Brazil that binded the two as a people of a shared common heritage.
This, he said, made the dialogue mechanism and field visit a welcome initiative that would drive them towards their collective aspirations.
“Our economic ambition in Nigeria at large and Kebbi in particular means that we recognise Brazil not only as a partner in progress but as a strategic partner from which a lot of lessons can be learned.
“The recent growth and successes recorded in the Brazilian Economy bear testament to what can be achieved when a country looks inward with a determination to succeed backed by a patriotic and hardworking population.
“Indeed, we in Kebbi have that spirit and we intend to emulate, as a subnational government, many of the successes we have seen in Brazil,” he said.
According to the governor, the state’s agribusiness credentials are known to the world, and it is part of the government’s policy to continue to support the agricultural sector.
“In that regard, there is a lot to be learned from Brazil. The successes in agri-energy are ambitions we have, and Brazilian collaboration is key to this aspiration,” he revealed.
The governor urged the delegation and private sector players to take advantage of the many opportunities abound in the state for the mutual benefit of their people and countries.
Earlier, the Deputy Vice Minister of Brazilian Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Mr Cleber Oleveira, who led the delegation, explained that the aim of the visit was to expand collaboration with Nigeria and Kebbi in particular.
Oleveira noted that his country sought collaboration across key sectors like trade and investment, agriculture, energy, defence, innovation, and cultural exchange.
On his part, Alhaji Faruk Gumel, the Managing Director of WACOT rice mill, who is the Tropical General Investments Group, recalled that in Nov. 2024, he was part of the President Bola Tinubu’s delegation to Brazil.
“We saw a country where local governments have airports. There were flights connecting one local government to another, because of agriculture.
“The country witnesses four to five harvests in a year, and it achieved everything in 20 years.
“If we push hard with the already Nigerians’ determination, we can do it in five years,” Gumel opined. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)