By Mercy Aikoye
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State Wednesday unveiled plans to attract local and foreign direct investments for the development of rail transportation, cattle ranching and alternative energy.
Bago who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, also hinted on the State’s preparedness for the first subnational Green Economy Summit, scheduled for 24th and 25th October, 2023, to be attended by over “500 participants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to discuss and help proffer solutions to issues of decarbonizing energy systems, circular economy, waste management, green agriculture, food security, eco tourism and community development.
“Other issues to be discussed include: conserving biodiversity for sustainable development, innovative solutions for water management, smart cities, sustainable urbanisation, women and youth engagement.”
Governor Bago who reiterated his administration’s resolve towards sustainable development of valuable natural resources (green assets) through the use of innovative practices in driving economic growth and prosperity, expressed optimism that the forthcoming Summit will help in achieving the feats.
He said: “It is very very clear that climate change has been a topic of discussion in the world. This morning I watched with so much pain how Libya has been overtaken by flood unprecedented.
“As a country and as a State, that is 10% the total size of Nigeria with bodies of water for hydropower dams, it is high time we start to pluck excess water during rainy season as a national plan, so that we can plough them back when we have drought.
“Secondly, to rearrange our forest, 8.6 million hectares of land is bigger the entire South South and South East.
“Also, solar, we have highlands. In the entire North Central we have the largest span of rocks and mountains and they are empty and fallowing.
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