Agric Minister, Gov Idris commission tomato factory in Kebbi

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; and Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, and host, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, converged on Kebbi to commission a tomato farming and processing facility, GB Foods, at Gafara village in Ngaski Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Nasir Idris, in his speech, remarked that his administration would create an enabling environment for private businesses and investors to thrive in the state, as he thanked the government of Spain for finding Kebbi State worthy to invest in and for establishing such a huge investment in the agricultural sector in the state.

He commended President Tinubu for sending a high-powered delegation to the state to obtain first-hand information and see things for themselves about the activities of the largest tomato processing plant in Africa, similar to the WACOT rice mill in the Argungu local government area of the state.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, reiterated the commitment of President Tinubu to providing a conducive and necessary environment for private investors to invest in the agricultural sector, in line with his eight-point agenda.

Senator Kyari commended the GB Company for its huge investment in the country, as demonstrated by its planned expansion of its processing facility.

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The Minister thanked the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Juan Sell, for personally visiting the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to invite the president to the commissioning ceremony.

Similarly, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has invested enormous resources in agricultural development and created an enabling environment for investors to invest in agriculture towards the attainment of food security for the country.

In his speech, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, commended the president for placing a premium on agricultural production and food security, which manifested in GB foods making a significant contribution to food security.

Bagudu commends the Emir of Yauri, Dr Muhammad Zayyanu-Abdullahi, for mobilising the host community to be receptive to the activities of the company with the necessary support from the state government, which has made significant achievements to raise the status of the company.

While giving his royal blessing, the Emir of Yauri, Alhaji Muhammad Zayyanu-Abdullahi, commended the governor for upholding the legacy of his predecessor by providing necessary support to investors, especially GB Foods.

In a remark, the Spanish Ambassador reiterated the commitment of Spain to partner with Nigeria in various sectors of the economy in spite of the challenges in the country.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr Vincent Egbe, on behalf of tomato farmers, donated a crate of the commodity to the Minister of Agriculture for onward delivery to President Tinubu to sample the quality of their cultivation.