The Dangote Group of Companies is set to invest over N53 billion in the production of rice and sugar in Nasarawa State.
President of the company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, disclosed this on Thursday in Lafia during an assessment tour of the investment potential in the state.
Dangote, who was represented by Mr Abdullahi Sule, the company’s Group Managing Director in charge of sugar production, said the company had set the machinery in motion to invest in Obi, Awe and Doma local government areas of the state.
He said that the company would establish a rice mill and give rice and sugarcane outgrowers about 10,000 hectares and seed
cane to enhance production.
He added that the company had similar projects in Adamawa and Taraba states which had generated over 25,000 jobs,
saying he expected same to happen in Nasarawa.
He noted that the company would also explore the huge coal deposit in the state to power their factories.
Dangote explained that in view of the high cost of gas to power the factories, the company decided to look inward by exploring coal as cheaper energy source.
“The three Dangote cement plants in the country have the capacity to produce over 25 million tonnes of cement, so you can imagine the amount of coal the plants will require,” he said.
He added that the company would set up a team to work out the details of the coal exploration in Nasarawa in commercial quantity.
Governor Tanko Al-Makura, who took the team on an assessment tour of the investment opportunities, expressed delight over the decision of the company to invest in the state.
Al-Makura said the investment would go a long way to generate employment and create wealth for the people of the state.
He said there were more than 70 different solid mineral deposits across the state waiting to be explored and called on investors to take advantage.
Al-Makura said Nasarawa had over 30 million tonnes of high quality coal in commercial quantity and lauded the decision of the Dangote group to tap into it.
He assured the company and other investors of conducive business environment.
