Northern Nigeria Development Company, NNDC, is set to establish a strong and viable bank, the chairman of its board, Alh. Bashir Dalhatu has announced.
The chairman, who disclosed this during a visit to the governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in Kano, on Wednesday, explained that the Northern governors have already given approval to the company to lead a move to actualize the plan.
He said the company has already approached several Northern business people on the matter with a view to establishing what he described as “a very viable and strong Northern bank”, since the nine banks hitherto owned by the some Northern states are no more.
The chairman stated that the company is also vigorously pursuing the search for oil and gas in the Lake Chad Basin and the Niger-Benue trough, pointing out that a British company has already being engaged to assist the NNDC towards realization of the ambition to exploit the oil and gas potential especially in the Lake Chad region.
Alh. Bashir also announced plans to establish an Agricultural Commodity Board, to guarantee market, quality and more farm produce in states in the region as well as the establishment of a multi faceted Agricultural Industrial park that will assist in fast tracking economic productivity.
The chairman who restated commitment of the NNDC to establish a strong foundation for Northern Nigeria to be self sufficient in food production, financial services and other sectors thanked the government of Kano state, under Dr. Ganduje for its unrelenting support, being the largest share holder in the company.
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje lamented that the region, which used to be the nucleus of economic activities in the country has declined significantly due to dependence on oil.
He said governors of the Northern states have resolved to step u collective political will to put the region ahead of others in terms of socio-economic growth.
Governor Ganduje stated that governors from the region are also determined to improve agriculture, consistent with the Federal government’s resolve to transform the sector.
He, therefore, described the Commodity Marketing agency floated by the NNDC as a step in the right direction, pointing out Kano state is already taking the lead to revamp the production of rice and wheat.
