By Umar Salihu Adamu
Niger State Coordinator of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr Abdulrasheed Mohammed has emphasized the need for stakeholders to intensify their efforts through regular consultation and feedback to ensure the optimal development and utilization of Nigeria’s natural resources.
Dr. Mohammed made this appeal during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting organized by Niger State Babanna Border Development Agency, themed “Unlocking the Border Potential of the New Niger,” held at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre Minna, Niger State. He highlighted the roles RMRDC will play once the bill prohibiting raw materials export without 30% value addition is passed at the National Assembly.
He said, “The bill ensures value addition before export, increasing local utilization, creating jobs, generating revenue, reducing foreign exchange pressure and enhancing economic growth, adding that this move aligns with the Federal Government’s target to increase value addition in raw materials from 25% to 60%”.
Dr. Mohammed also discussed matters about Shea butter, saying that the state is blessed with an abundance of Shea nuts, disclosing that the Raw Materials Research and Development Council has developed a robust prototype Shea butter processing machine at the Research and Demonstration Complex, NARSDA, Abuja which is ready for commercialization.
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Dr. Mohammed urged the agency to deploy its technology to Babanna border community for resource-based enterprises to utilize and increase the quality and quantity of Shea butter from it.
He gave assurance of RMRDC’s continued engagement with Niger State Babanna Border Development Agency and other stakeholders for a viable fruitful collaboration in raw materials development.
In his address, the Niger State Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Honorable Suleiman Takuma, also emphasized the importance of sustained synergy among stakeholders, reaffirming the Niger State Government’s commitment to local raw materials development under the leadership of Governor Umaru Bago.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Niger State Babanna Border Development Agency, Alhaji Mohammed Garba Danladi, stressed the agency’s focus on revenue generation, promoting trade, and stimulating economic activities, supporting farmers, improving productivity, and ensuring food security.
The DG Niger State Babanna Border Development Council Agency mentioned that the agency’s functions also include local resources management, ensuring responsible mining and agriculture practices, environmental protection, community benefits, and trade liberalization management to promote global commerce through the establishment of the Babanna Border International Market by the Federal Government and Niger State Government under the Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by officers from the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Nigeria Customs Service, Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, Niger State Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and Borgu Local Government Council and other organizations too numerous to mention.
