Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Thursday said that his administration was pursuing new investment partnerships in manufacturing, education and health care, stressing that Nigeria’s economic reforms had expanded the scope for states to attract private capital.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Governor Alia said meetings with prospective investors and corporate groups had created opportunities for Benue to promote its industrial assets and pursue bilateral partnerships.
“It is quite ideal to be here because it opens up a number of opportunities for us, and particularly for Benue State,” Alia said.
“We have been interacting with a number of people, and this opportunity creates some big ways for bilaterals for us.”
He said several conglomerates had expressed interest in working with the state, particularly as Benue seeks to build on its agricultural base through processing and medium-scale industry.
Governor Alia cited orange-processing facilities, juice and concentrate factories, as well as Taraku Mills, which he described as one of the state’s largest industrial assets.
He said his government had reopened and revived five industries and was seeking investors who could assess the state’s commercial potential.
“There are people who are very interested, who want to come, but they need to know the content we have,” he said.
The Benue governor said President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms had improved the state’s prospects, although he did not provide figures showing the scale of the gains or identify companies that had indicated interest in investing.
“Because of the new reforms Mr. President has brought to bear on the Nigerian economy, we have gained a lot,” Alia noted.
“Our state has gained so much, and so we need to take advantage of some opportunity like this.”
NewsQuest reports that Benue, a largely agricultural State Nigeria’s North-Central region, has long sought to convert more of its farm output into processed products.
Governor Alia has often pointed to the state’s production of yams, citrus, soybeans, sesame and other crops as an opportunity for agro-processing investment.
The Governor told reporters that the state was also seeking external partners for a newly established university, with the goal of strengthening the institution’s financial and operational independence.
“An opportunity again like this presents us not just the window chance, but the big door, for us to see those who can come in and enable our university to stay independent,” he said.
He added that Benue wanted development partners and private-sector collaborators to support improvements in its health-care system.
“The state economy is fully opened up. I am happy to say that a number of investors have been coming,” Alia added.
Governor Alia also used the occasion to endorse Nigeria’s campaign for a more prominent role at the United Nations, saying that, as Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, Nigeria deserves greater representation in global decision-making.
“Nigeria’s voice is quite big. We are one of the largest economies on the continent of Africa, and so it matters. Our larger numbers matter much, and then our growth. Our economy also matters,” the Governor said.
He said Nigeria’s pursuit of a permanent seat on the UN Security Council would strengthen Africa’s voice and could help advance economic development across the continent.
“It behooves all of us to be of one voice, one accord and one purpose in ensuring that once Nigeria gains a permanent seat at the UN, the continent is also to gain a lot of support, a lot of mileage, a lot of growth and a lot of development,” he said.
Governor Alia also said he expected to continue meetings with prospective partners in New York and looked forward to Nigeria’s presentation at the General Assembly by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was representing President Tinubu at the global event.
