EXCLUSIVE: More states prospect NAADI says Project Coordinator

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) have said that more states would soon join in the participation of Nigeria Agricbusiness and Agro- Industry Development Initiative (NAADI) project. This was disclosed by the project coordinator, and deputy director, of the Ministry, Mr. Irimiya Kaura.

Speaking with our correspondent in his office, Mr. Kaura said that more states are now willing to participate in the project like Sokoto, Imo, Uyo and Kano adding that the new permanent secretary is very passionate about the project as he was not comfortable with the few present numbers of NAADI offices in the country.

Kaura added that talk with Ebonyi, Bauchi and Lagos states have been advanced as there are already bankable proposals sent by the  cooperatives that have been trained on processing at different levels, thereby looking forward to get the Bank of Industry (BOI) to endorse and screen members before getting fund.  

He stated that cooperatives have been formed, as there are already bankable proposals sent in by the cooperatives for onward transmission to Bank of Industry ( BOI ) for funding, pointed that proposal from Imo State has been sent in, while other zones have also been requested to summit.

The director added that NAADI is partnering with USAID in their feed the future programme saying collaboration and follow up meetings are ongoing.

In this regards he said that a team would soon inspect both Lagos and Imo states offices for NAADI to take off just as Bauchi and Ebonyi too also are slated for visit, while both Ondo and Ekiti also would follow. He pointed that Sokoto state is already reaping the dividend of NAADI as chilli pepper and onions are now exported to Europe. 

He continued that they are working alongside Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SEEDAN), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) adding they engage in training the stakeholders in these offices created.