By Sa’eed Ahmad Bappah and Adamu Abubakar, Gombe
Gombe State is set to experience a significant economic boost following plans by two multinational companies to establish and operate in the promising Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park.
The two companies brought investment deals totaling a whooping $45 million USD.
One of the leading food and beverage company, Sonia Foods and Beverages, announced plans to invest over $15 million to establish a tomato processing plant and tomato farming in Gombe State.
The project, requiring a 10-hectare landmass for tomato cultivation, is projected to be Nigeria’s largest single agro-project upon completion.
“The project is expected to create about 30,000 direct and indirect jobs for the state,” noted the company’s financial consultant, Mr. Emeka Obiagwu.
In a separate development, Three Ace Technology, a renewable energy firm, also pledged to invest $30 million in Gombe State.
Led by President Ambassador Samson Bolarin and Managing Director Joseph Adereti, the company revealed plans to establish a 150-megawatt capacity solar power station.
“One of the reasons we chose Gombe State as the first state for the first phase of our investment is the state’s good solar irradiation and the favorable business atmosphere created by the current administration,” Mr. Adereti commented.
“The project will also include a data center and a skills training facility, which is expected to generate 2,000 jobs for the state’s youth”, he added.
After inspecting the land allocated to their respective companies and touring the facility, representatives of the two companies expressed full satisfaction with the park’s facilities, assuring they would leverage every potential to advance their operations while promoting Gombe globally and stimulating local economic growth and development.
The companies expressed readiness to commence operations immediately after completing the necessary paperwork.
Receiving the investors in his office, Gombe State Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau thanked the investors for choosing Gombe State, highlighting the state’s commitment to supporting business growth.
“The Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park is a prime investment location, equipped with essential infrastructure like power, water, and security,” he explained.
The Deputy Governor assured the state government’s commitment to supporting investors.
“We promised to provide all your demands, including an additional 10 hectares of land for tomato farming. We have a functional airport that was recently taken over by the federal government for upgrades, good road infrastructure, a rail line, medical facilities, fertile land, and many more opportunities,” he added.
Dr. Jatau called on the investors to widen their scope as Gombe is blessed with abundant natural and human resources and the strategic location of the state at the center of the Northeast region.
In his remarks, the interim chairman of the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, Alhaji Bashir Nuhu, appreciated the investors and promised to give them all necessary support to actualize this huge investment for the development of Gombe and its citizens.
He said the completed Phase One, Sector One of the park is equipped with infrastructure and it will accommodate 40 heavy, 70 medium, and 700 light industries.
“We are working to upgrade our waste disposal system and improve security and additional water treatment plants for the facility,” he said.
Mercy Corps, the investments’ facilitator, attributed the state’s success in attracting investors to the state’s prevailing favorable business environment owing to its position as the No. 1 in ease of doing business in the country.
The influx of these investments is expected to significantly contribute to Gombe State’s economic growth, job creation, and industrial development, aligning with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s mission of transforming Gombe State into a Northeast economic and commercial center.