Niger Seeks Partnership With Foreign Firm On Gold Refinery

Niger State government has sought partnership with an Australian firm for the establishment of a gold refinery to boost investment and expand private sector participation in the sector.

The commissioner for Investment and Private Sector Development, Hon. Aminu Suleman Takuma, disclosed this at the ongoing Domestic Trade Fair in Minna.

He said the administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago was investing in critical infrastructure to create an enabling environment for local and foreign investments to thrive.

Takuma said the state has enormous economic potential in agriculture, mining, transportation and industrial development, adding that the government was focused on building sustainable partnerships to drive economic growth.

On some of the areas that the government had built partnerships, he listed Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, a flagship project partly funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and international investors and the rehabilitation of Baro Port.

He said the state has received a Certificate of Compliance from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission to attract investors disclosing that instead of committing huge resources to dredging the River Niger, the government would adopt a cabotage system where large vessels will offload cargo at coastal ports like Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar, while smaller vessels will move goods to Baro through inland waterways.

Takuma said Baro Port will also serve as a major export route for solid minerals from Niger State and beyond.