Niger Govt settles USD 3.25bn deal for aquaculture project 

NIGERIA
Thursday, August 17, 2017, 01:30 (GMT + 9) 

Niger State Government signed a USD 3.25 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) with All States Investment Ltd. to promote fish farming in the state.

The announcement was made by Henry Goiko, Managing Director of the company at the 2017 Niger State Investment Summit tagged “Impact Advancing Agricultural Economy through Innovation,’ BusinessDay informed.

As part of the deal, the company acquired 42,948.21 hectares of land in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of the state. The project also includes setting up a "Comprehensive Agricultural Town," which will have 40,000 houses to accommodate workers.

The project will boast world-class facilities, including independent electricity supply facility.

“It will also have all types of animal husbandry that will be producing and selling products in the world market. We want to start aquaculture farming such as crocker and tilapia fish farming to stop fish importation. We have our Chinese partners from Shanghai to assist us,’’ the executive stressed.

He pointed out that the establishment of the farm, which would witness the transfer of technology, would have industrial clusters where people would be trained.

Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello considered the settlement of this deal as an important milestone in the State's search for encouragement to boost its economy through agriculture.  

The project is expected to be launched in February 2018.