Niger Govt To Plant 10m Shea Trees, As New Company Offers Locals N2bn
Niger State which leads in Shea butter processing in Nigeria is planning to plant 10 million more shea trees to sustain production of shea butter in the state.
According to Governor Mohammed Umar Bagos, who inaugurated a shea butter processing plant in Kudu, Mokwa Local Government Area, the planting of new trees would strengthen local economy, create employment and reduce poverty.
Bago said that the 10 million shea trees would be planted on a 10,000 hectares of land to make shea nuts readily available for investors.
On the Shea processing plant in Kudu set up by Salid Agriculture Nigeria Limited with support from NEXIM Bank, the governor said it would complement government efforts in job creation and improve the economic status of the people.
He urged people of the community to support the company to sustain production.
The Syndicate reports that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Niger Foods and Salid Shea Nut Processing Factory in Kudu was signed at the event.
Under the MoU, N2 billion would be provided to create direct employment for women and youth in the area who would be picking shea nuts and bring them to the factory.
The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Ali Saidu, said the plant has the capacity to produce 30,000 metric tons of shea butter annually, and is ready to compete in the global market.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEXIM Bank, Abba Bello, explained that though 60% of global shea nuts production is from Nigeria, the country lacks industrial plants to process the product.
The Minister of State Agriculture and Food Security, Abdullahi Sabi Abdullahi, welcomed the huge investment in the shea nut processing plant at a time the government is striving to diversify the nation’s economy.
