GOVS WOO DANGOTE TO INVEST IN THEIR STATES

Following the successful commissioning of the new six million tons per annum capacity Dangote Cement, Ibese plant, no fewer than10 state governors have expressed desire to persuade the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Alijko Dangote to invest in their states.

Speaking with newsmen at the weekend, the governors who were among the dignitaries at the opening ceremony last February 9 commended the business ingenuity of Dangote and said they would do all within their power to prevail on the business mogul to consider investments in their states, saying that would be the only way to grow the economy of their people.

The governors, who were particularly conscious of the job potentials of such a huge investment, said the Ibese cement plant would generate an estimated 7, 000 direct jobs and another indirect 4, 000 jobs.

Some of the governors, who claimed to have opened discussions with Dangote, said lack of gainful employment among the people was a major challenge being confronted by them in the task of providing good governance to their people. They said Dangote had proved more than able to help in this regard to achieve their economic agenda.

President Goodluck Jonathan who commissioned the new plant had urged other Nigerian businessmen to emulate Dangote and invest in Nigeria, noting that the feat attained by Alhaji Dangote in setting up businesses in Nigeria was enough evidence to foreign investors that Nigeria was safe and business friendly. President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had said his organisation was taking up the challenge to lead the way in making the nation self-reliant in cement production and, consequently, reduce its huge foreign exchange on imports.

According to him, Dangote Cement intends to move away completely from import of certain commodities, of which cement is one, by strengthening the local production capacity. Governors who expressed the desire to drag Alhaji Dangote to their states include, Mr Peter Obi, Anambra State, Isa Yuguda, Bauchi State, Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State, Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State, and Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, among others.

Obi said Alhaji Dangote had shown that Nigerians had the capacity to grow their economy through investments and urged other Nigerian businessmen to emulate him. He said: 'I am appealing to Alhaji Dangote to please consider Anambra State for investment.'My state is peaceful and the state government would be ready to do all that is required to ensure smooth take off of such business.'