RIVERS State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has called on German investors to take advantage of the vast arable land in northern Nigeria to invest in the region’s agricultural potential for quick returns on investment.
Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), made the call on Wednesday, in Berlin, the German capital. Amaechi and five other Nigerian governors are on a tour of Germany to understudy its federal system of government with a view to replicating its best practice in their states.
The tour was the result of the collaborative efforts between the NGF and the German Agency for International Corporation (GAIC).
The governors on the trip include those of Enugu, Niger, Plateau, Borno and Katsina states.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the governors are paying special attention to Germany`s administrative system, fiscal policy and the establishment and sustenance of small and medium scale enterprises.
They are also expected to meet and woo prospective European investors to their respective states.
“Beyond the knowledge of studying the governance, I will urge you to please come to the northern part of Nigeria because of its vast land and invest in its agriculture and your return will be quick.
“Am sure that if you do the computation, you will see that it will be cheaper to invest in agriculture in the north.
“Am making this request because presently there is an unemployment situation in Nigeria, and I do not think that technology would solve the problem.
“What will solve the problem is agriculture so it is important if we can have those of you who are willing to invest in agriculture go to the north,” Amaechi said.
He said that this would not only help boost the economy of the north, but would reduce the number of unemployed youths in the region when compared to the southern part of the country.
The governor told the German business community that there were other areas of investment in Nigeria that could also guarantee quick returns on investment because of its large population and purchasing power.
According to him such areas include electricity, education, transportation, among others.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that GAIC is presently helping to grow small businesses in some northern states
in Nigeria.
The German government has also entered into agreement with the Nigerian government to help strengthen its institutions and provide managerial training in Nigeria’s energy sector to help address the challenges in that sector.