By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth $1.5 billion with the Resident Cement Company, to establish a massive cement production plant in the state.
The company will be located in the Gwana District of Alkaleri Local Government Area and is expected to produce 10 million tonnes of cement annually and generate employment opportunities for unemployed youths as well as stimulate economic growth and development in the North East region.
Governor Bala Abdukadir Muhammad who was speaking during the signing of the document, assured the company of his government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for investors to thrive.
He said that cement company will also construct a 100-megawatt electricity plant, a dam, and a truck parking space, among other social amenities, to support the project, which will benefit not only the company but also the host community and the state at large.
While saying the company will attract foreign investment and boost its domestic revenue generation efforts, which will grow the economy, the governor pledged to prevent any encumbrances that might hinder the smooth execution of the project.
Governor Muhammad assured the state’s readiness to partner relevant investors in harnessing the abundant mineral and natural resources the state is endowed with to assist in making the state financially independent.He added that his administration will partner the federal government to remove all administrative bottlenecks for the smooth actualisation of the project.
The Governor appealed to other investors to go to the Bauchi and invest, assuring them of his administration’s security of their lives, properties and their investments.
The State Commissioner for Natural Resources, Muhammàd Maiwada Bello, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hassan El-Yakub, SAN, signed the MoU on behalf of the Sate Government, while the Group Chairman of Resident Cement Company, Abbas Junaidu Waziri, signed for the company.
The commissioner praised Governor Bala for his efforts in working with many stakeholders to advance Bauchi State’s growth and development, which will also function as a tool for the state’s economic expansion.
He gave the company his word that everything would be provided to enable the realisation of this important and enormous development, considering this is the first of its kind.
In brief remarks, Dr Junaid Waziri, Chairman of Resident Cement Company Ltd., praised the governor for authorising the construction of a cement factory in the Gwana District of the Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.
He assured that this development will help the state’s economy flourish and create jobs for young people throughout the state.