PRESS RELEASE- NIGERIA: BEST GLOBAL INVESTMENT DESTINATION IN AGRICULTURE – LOKPOBIRI

Hon. Minister of State, FMARD, Senator Lokpobiri (middle) with team leader Akihiko Yoshizumi, Deputy general manager overseas department and another member of the team during a visit.

The increasing population in Africa and particularly the Nigerian environment has a huge market and therefore is no doubt the best global investment destination for a profitable returns and serious prospective investor in Agriculture. 

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri made this assertion when a team of Japanese investors visited him in Abuja.

Senator Lokpobiri in a press release signed by the Deputy Director, Information Mrs Lere-Adam welcomed the  investment plans by the Japanese team saying the population growth,  human resources avaliability and untapped arable land are great assets to do business in Nigeria together with local investors that have the understanding of the environment.

The Minister added that the current FG Agricultural Policy is already encouraging investors with incentives such as zero import rates and tax duty waivers, but observed that Nigeria is yet to maximize her agricultural opportunities in some crops due to lack of capacity in the best global practices in the processing and packaging of these crops.

He said there is a huge demand from China for our cassava and pulses for the Indian markets, but that our present subsistence farming cannot meet the demands as it can only be attained by sustainable mechanized farming towards job and wealth creation at the rural areas . 

He however assured the Japanese investors of Government’s readiness to support  mechanized farming that will ensure proactive value chains towards food security in the country and export to the West African sub-region.

 Earlier, the leader of the team Akihiko Yoshizumi, Deputy General Manager of Oversea department Mitsui and co, Ltd, said they are in Nigeria to partner local investors like Dansa for mechanized farming expansion and production of tomato paste and cassava.

Nigeria being one of the greatest producers in the world, Mr. Akihiko said they are in Nigeria to identify with the requirements in doing agro-business processing and development of sites to support and also participate in the entire Value Chains with Nigerian local investors as partners.