Sokoto State Governor Dr. Ahmed Aliyu has appealed to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) to attract investors for the establishment of an onion processing factory in the state.
Governor Aliyu made this request during a courtesy visit by NOPPMAN members, led by their Regional President, Alhaji Mustapha Kadiri, alongside NEPC’s Executive Director, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni. This visit precedes the association’s upcoming international conference in Sokoto.
In his address, the governor emphasized his administration’s commitment to fostering investment to enhance the state’s economy, particularly in the agricultural sector, where Sokoto is a prominent onion producer. “We have distributed fertilizers and farming inputs to our farmers free of charge, a first in the history of Sokoto State,” he stated.
Additionally, Governor Aliyu mentioned initiatives like the introduction of irrigation farming in several local government areas to further promote agricultural activities. He urged NEPC and NOPPMAN to leverage their influence to attract investors not only for onion processing but also for garlic processing.
NOPPMAN National President Dr. Maitasamu Isa Aliyu responded by encouraging the governor to prioritize the establishment of an onion processing factory. He highlighted that local processing of onions would significantly enhance the livelihoods of the youth in Sokoto State. Dr. Aliyu commended the governor for supporting NOPPMAN’s international conference, recognizing the association as the leading body in Nigeria’s onion industry and noting its collaboration with federal agencies to promote agricultural trade.