Gov. Ortom urges Benue people to invest in Agriculture, ICT

Governor Samuel Ortom has urged people of the state to explore the investment opportunities in agriculture as well as Information and Communication Technology, ICT to contribute their quota to the economic development of the state.

He made the call today at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi during a courtesy visit on him by a delegation from the Benue State Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, led by its Controller, Abba Bulus Ibrahim.

The Governor stated that investment opportunities abound in fisheries right from production and the entire value chain, stressing that cultivation of maize and other cash crops in commercial quantities could also serve as raw materials and provide employment opportunities.

He stated that his administration had recently constituted a committee to explore potential investment areas that could help develop the economy, pointing out that government would sensitise and encourage the people to venture into such things that would make their economy better.

The Governor commended the CBN for its interest in the development of non oil economy especially agriculture, saying his administration would collaborate with it to become one of the fish production hubs in the country.

The CBN branch Controller, Abba Bulus Ibrahim stated that the bank was intensifying collaboration with relevant stakeholders to boost production, thereby reducing import bills and creating jobs along the value chain of ten major agricultural commodities including fisheries.

He stated that Nigeria with its large expanse of marine and inland water resources could become self-sufficient in fish production if necessary steps were taken to properly develop and increase investment in the fish subsector.

Mr. Ibrahim lamented that Nigeria loses about $1.2 billion annually to importation of fish which also slows economic growth and causes loss of employment.

He said fish farmers could access funding in form of loans from the CBN through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme with support from the state government.