Sokoto to get $250m food processing plant

As the largest community of onions producers in Africa, Sokoto State government has promised to tap the competitive advantage it has in the agro allied sector to attract investments into the state. Also, the chairman Erisco Foods, Chief Eric Umeofia, said his firm will invest about $250 million in food processing plants in the state. […]

As the largest community of onions producers in Africa, Sokoto State government has promised to tap the competitive advantage it has in the agro allied sector to attract investments into the state.
Also, the chairman Erisco Foods, Chief Eric Umeofia, said his firm will invest about $250 million in food processing plants in the state.
The state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, made the disclosure in Lagos during a facility tour of the Erisco Food processing plant.
He said Sokoto State has tomatoes in abundance, ginger, onions as well as other agro commodities that investors can tap into.
The governor said his administration is also currently working with an Argentine company to establish milk processing factory in the state and that the work has reached about 60-70 per cent completion stage. “We are focused on that,” he added.
Tambuwal disclosed further that investment opportunity is also available in the state in the area of solid mineral development.
He said that the state government is ready to give all the necessary incentives to manufacturers who are willing to establish their point of presence in the state.
He said there is a proposal before the state house of assembly seeking to establish a commodity and marketing board that will serve as interface between farmers and off takers as well as address storage issues.
In the meantime, the chairman Erisco Foods, Chief Eric Umeofia, said his firm will invest about $250 million in food processing plants in the state.
According to him, about 6000 employment opportunities are targeted in one and half years that will boost the social wellbeing of the people of the state.
He said Erisco will partner with local farmers to increase their capacity for national economic growth.