FOR A GREATER KADUNA STATE

Over the years, Nigeria has witnessed slow progress in laying a solid foundation for economic enhancement and democratic governance in the country.  For any meaningful development to take place, security of lives and property must be ensured.  It is in recognition of this desire that the present administration of Arc Namadi Sambo accorded priority attention to security by expending enormous resources over the years to ensure peaceful co-existence among its diverse peoples.  Of significant importance is the creation of Operation Yaki as well as the legal reforms which eventually cleared the ambiguities in the laws being applied and also satisfied as best as possible the yearnings and aspirations of the contending interests of communities.  Consultations and dialogue were held with opinion leaders, interest groups, religious and community leaders who made useful inputs.  The legal reforms upheld the freedom of worship, religious tolerance and mutual respect amongst the diverse people of the Sate.

With the consolidation of peace in the State, Government has vigorously pursued development programmes that have positively impacted on the citizenry.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Kaduna State has favourable opportunities that are attributable to its central position, easy accessibility and abundant natural resources, which can be exploited at commercial level.  Such opportunities can be classified into:

i.          Agricutural

ii.          Manufacturing

iii.         Solid Mineral

iv.         Tourism

v.         Education

vi          Health

AGRICULTURE

The State is naturally endowed with favourable soils and conducive climate for the production of various crops (arable and tree cropping).  With a cultivable land area of 4.5m hectares, only 2.02 hectres is under actual cultivation.  It is against this background that the state is recommended to entrepreneurs to invest in farming in any of the following crops for which we have comparative advantage in their production.  These are maize, Soya beans, ginger, chillies, cassava, sesame, tomatoes, cotton, sugar cane, sorghum, rice and acha.  Japan is already partnering with Kaduna State Government in the production of ginger, sorghum and acha.

Similarly, investment could be made on tree crops such as mango, citrus, guava, palm kernels and passion fruits, which are grown in large quantities.  In this regard, African Development Foundation (ADF) has a commitment toward development, production and processing of fruits in this state.

The state is also endowed with potential for expanding its forest plantation and horticultural farming to meet any industrial demand.  Tree species of great potential include Teak, Malina, Pines and others with unlimited scope for commercial exploitation.

ESTIMATES OF SOME ANNUAL CROPS PRODUCTION IN KADUNA STATE

CROP               AREAS OF HIGH                       PRODUCTION   ESTIMATED

PROD. (Ha) ANNUAL

PROD.

(TON)

1. Maize            Lere, Soba, Giwa

                        B/Gwari                         318071.68                     944671.11

2. Rice  Kaura, Lere, Ikara,

                        B/Gwari, Makarfi,

                        Sanga, Kubau, Kajuru    203043.91                     325,000.46

3. Sorghum       Giwa, Makarfi, Ikara

                        Kudan                           311100.63                     578647.17

4. Millet Giwa, Makarfi, Ikara

                        Kudan                           325260.39                     509051.74

5. Cassava        Igabi, Jema’a, Kagarko,

                        Jaba, Kaura, Z/Kataf     21268.67                       1980896.11

6. Soya Beans  Jema’a, Zangon/Kataf,

                                    Kachia, Giwa, Makarfi,

                                    Kudan, Soba, Ikara

                                    Kaura, Kubau,   74447.5             105715.53

7. Ginger           Kachia, Jaba, Kagarko,

                        Jema’a, Zangon/Kataf   233561.60                     2335616

8. Cotton          Giwa, Makarfi, Soba,

                        Ikara, Kauru, Kubau.      263286.75                     257997.15

9. Sugarcane  Makarfi, Kudan, Ikara

                           Kubau, Igabi, Lere      232561.68                     4184246.24

10. Tomato       Ikara, Kubau, Soba

                        Zaria, Kudan, Igabi        64778.80                       421062.20

11. Mango        Kaura, Jema’a, Kagarko,

                        Chikun, Zaria, Soba,

                        Kaduna, Sanga, Z/Kataf                        28,000  62,000

12. Chillies        Giwa, Makarfi                115.598             109818

13. Cashew       All over the State                       5000                             5,500

14. Honey         Kagarko, Kaura, Zaria,

                        Z/Kataf, Jaba, Kachia,

                        Chikun, Sanga, Kauru,

                        Soba.                                       2          100 MT due to low

                                                                                    Technology but has

potential to increase

LIVESTOCK FARMING

Livestock farming is also an attractive area of investment.  The sector has a lot of potentials for small, medium and large-scale farmers to engage in any of the following areas:

a.         Cattle Breeding             d          Fish Farming

b          Sheep and Goat Rearing            e          Ostrich/Poultry Farming

c.         Piggery                         f.          Bee Keeping.

Right from the 60s the state government acquired vast expanses of land in various parts of the State for livestock development.  These livestock projects have however almost grounded to a halt owing to inability of government to fund and manage them effectively.  They however provide for opportunities for private investors either singly or in partnership with government to resuscitate them into full production.  All the projects are strategically located in terms of accessibility, market, natural and human resources.

The projects are equipped with basic infrastructures including staff accommodation, office blocks, grazing paddocks, earth dams, tick baths, bore holes, water pumps, electric generating sets and machineries.  Details can be obtained from the ministry of agriculture.

DATA ON ESTIMATED ANNUAL ANIMAL POPULATION AND FISH PRODUCTION

S/N       ANIMALS                                                                      REMARKS

1.         Cattle                                        1,144,000                      Annual Growth rate of

                                                                                                44%

2.         Camels                                     Nil                                -

3.         Sheep                                       832,000

4.         Goats                                       988,000

5.         Pigs                                         416,000

6.         Poultry                          5,200,000

7.         Fish                                          434,918 MT

8.         Fish                                          780,992 MT                   Table Fish

9.         Fish Ponds                               50,000 MT                     Fingerlings

            & Wells

The cattle breeding Ranch at Idon in Kachia Local Government is being leased to a private farm, Farm Fresh Products Limited, for dairy development.

OTHER AREAS FOR PARTNERSHIP

The Kaduna State Government has embarked on a number of agricultural programmes aimed at poverty reduction, job creation and sustainable food security.  These include:

i.          Kaduna State Trust Fund Model for development of small-scale agriculture through credit assistance to farmers at 5% interest rate.

ii.          Community Based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme

iii.         Fadama II Project

iv.         National Programme for food security

v.         Root and Tuber Crops Expansion Programme

vi.         For aquaculture numerous water bodies eg. Rivers and dams abound, which would be stocked and utilized as fishing village for tourism as well as commercial fish farming.

The state has potential for large-scale tilapia production, which attracts investors for partnership.  Such sites include Kangimi, Saminaka, Zaria Dams, Galma, Kaduna, Matsirga, Gurara and Takau Rivers.

vii.        Commercial Agricultural Development for Lead States (Kaduna, Cross Rivers, Enugu, Kano and Lagos) that is yet to take off.

viii.       The State has two Gazetted Grazing Reserves and twelve ungazetted with great potentials for dairy and beef production and processing.

In addition to the above, Piggery, Ostrich/Poultry and Bee keeping are areas that have remained largely untapped.

MANUFACTURING SECTOR

Kaduna State has favourable investment opportunities that can be exploited profitably and at commercial level.  The State Government recognizes the crucial role of micro, small and medium scale enterprises as the main engine of growth, because they provide employment and support services to major industries.  As a result, it promotes the development of small scale industries by providing counseling services like project idea, assistance to existing and prospective entrepreneurs to enable them expand or establish viable industries.  These projects range from block industries, bakeries, welding, furniture making, printing, chalk manufacturing, saw milling, venetian blind, etc.  This policy has made a great impact as it has inculcated greater awareness in this sub-sector of the economy by creating employment opportunities, reducing rural-urban migration and providing goods and services to the public.

Similarly the State Government has established industries like Kachia Food Company, to process raw ginger into powder, oil and oleoresin, Kafanchan Food and Flour Mill Ltd., with the capacity of processing 18-20 tones of grains per day like maize, millet and wheat, Zaria Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd for production of disposable syringes and syrups and Ikara Food Company to produce tomato paste, Ketchup, tomato and orange juices.  All the four Companies are now slated for privatization.

These in addition to other Companies in the State that provide investment opportunities are summarized below:

The establishment of Peugeot Automobile Assembly Plant, Federal Super-phosphate Fertilizer, which have been privatized and Kaduna Refining and Petrol-Chemical Company on the other hand has significantly improved the economic activities of the State.  The government also established and developed a good number of industrial layouts that are provided with roads, water and electricity supply, for allocation to private entrepreneurs for industrial development.

PROCEDURES FOR SECURING COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL LAND IN KADUNA STATE

1.         Incorporate a company in Nigeria.

2.         Apply to the Ministry of Lands, Surveys and Country Planning.

3.        To ease the process for land allocation, investors are required to send the following comprehensive information to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for examination and processing:

.           Memorandum and Articles of Association

.           Certificate of Incorporation,

.           Feasibility study of the project,

.           Tax clearance certificate,

.           Name(s) and address(es) of banker(s)

.           Names, State, Nationality and Address(es) of Directors.

Investors with viable projects would be recommended to Ministry of Lands, Surveys and Country Planning for issuance of Certificate of Occupancy.

SOLID MINERALS

Kaduna State is well endowed with varied solid minerals and a good number have been exploited since the beginning of the last century.  Surveys conducted have confirmed that there are opportunities for investors in exploration and processing of these minerals for export.  They had remained largely untapped due to heavy reliance on crude oil.  These include gemstones like aquamarine, sapphires and metallic minerals like tantalite, columbite, iron ore, etc.  Almost all the 23 Local Government areas of Kaduna State can boast of at least one mineral such as granite, gabbros and geisses whose beauty and texture are of world standard.  Investment opportunities abound for the setting up of quarries and factories for polishing granite.  Some of the solid minerals found in the State are reflected in the table below.

PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SOLID MINERALS MINNING IN NIGERIA

The Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) has been established by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as an autonomous body with exclusive responsibility to Consider, Issue, Suspend, Revoke Application/Mining Titles and Permits.

MINING TITLES

Under the provisions of the new law, the right to search for, or exploit minerals in Nigeria, is obtained through one of the following mining titles:

-           Reconnaissance Permit

-           Exploration licence

-           Small-scale mining lease

-           Quarry lease; and

-           Water use permit

LICENSE/PERMIT APPLICATION PROCEDURES

APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE MINING CADASTRE OFFICE (MCO) OR DOWNLOADED FROM THE WEBSITE OF THE MINISTRY OF MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT

-           Submit completed application form (in 3 copies) along with the necessary documents and processing fees to MCO.

-           Submitted application shall be assigned with an identifying code and registered with date, and a copy to be given to the applicant as application certificate.

-           Incomplete or wrongly completed application shall be rejected without refunds of application fee.

-           Where applications require minor amendments, the applicant shall be duly informed to effect the necessary corrections within a period of 5 working days.

-           After registration, the MCO shall provisionally plot the perimeter on the cadastral maps.

-           If granted a license/permit the applicant shall be informed and be given 30 days within which to pay the Annual Service Fee and collect the license/permit.

-           If the applicant does not collect the license/permit within fifteen days of notification, the license shall automatically be cancelled.

TOURISM

In Kaduna State, tourist attractions are natural and cultural.  The natural attractions includes physical features like the Matsirga Waterfalls, Kagoro Hills, Kamuku National Park, Kajim Water Spring, Turunku Hills, Kufena Hills, among others all located in different areas of the State.  On the other hand, cultural attractions include the famous Nok Terra Cottas, a collection of artifacts depicting the existence of an ancient civilization dating back to 2500 B.C., Zaria City walls and gates; Emir of Zazzau’s Palace, St. Barthonomew’s Church in Wusasa Zaria, Lugard Hall, National Museum, Arewa House, Gen. Hassan Katsina Park, Trappco Ranch and Resorts, Fith Chukker Resort, Mararraba Pottery and various cultural festivals like Durba procession and performance on Sallah day, Tuk Ham Day, Afan Day and so on.  Other attractions include Zaria Dam, Kangimi Dam, Gurara Water Project and the on going Nok Museum of Antiquities.

It is important to identify tourist attractions before any developmental activity could be sought for, as these attractions form the basis for investment.  The Government of Kaduna State has made significant progress in the provision of infrastructure by the construction of roads, provision of electricity, rural telephony and water supply.  This has been more correctly done, as about 90% of these tourist attractions are mostly located in the rural areas.  These infrastructures are resident oriented as they are meant to serve the purpose of the resident communities where attractions are found and not the tourists only.

Investible attractions include the following:

a)         Matsirga Waterfalls                    e)         Kangimi Dam

b)         Nok Settlement                          f)          Kamuku National Park

c)         Kagoro Hills                                          g)         Gurara Water Project

d)         Zaria Dam                                             h)         Kajim Water Spring

It is important to note that land acquisition has been made easier at most of the attractions since government ahs already acquired them from the host communities.

In 1996, the State Government for the upgrading of Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina Park expended N16m.  And in 2004, the Multipurpose Theater, at the same vicinity with the Park was also completed at the cost of N250m.  The Kaduna River with it large expanse of flood plains that allows ample opportunities for aquatic activities bounds the Gen. Hassan Park.  In the same vein motels and hotels belonging to the State Government located in Zaria, Kaduna, Kafanchan, Ikara, Kachia, Saminaka, Kagoro and Birnin Gwari have been leased out to private operators for better management.

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