Why Jigawa Has Remained Investment Destination, Badaru.

By Mohammed Abubakar, Dutse

Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state has attributed the string of investment being witnessed under his administration to the relative security enjoyed currently .

The governor made the observation while addressing a one-day stakeholders’ forum on the ease of doing business, (EDB) organized by the state investment promotion agency, InvestJigawa in my Dutse.

Represented by his deputy, Umar Namadi said, “I like to mention that recent data has revealed that in the previous quarter of 2022, of the 36 states and FCT, Jigawa had the lowest media reported killings from terrorists, bandits, abductions and gang clashes.”

Badaru attributed the development to the coordinated approach to the cooperation existing between and among the security agencies and the state government, and expressed the hope that such cooperation would continue.

The governor said the state government was doing its best to provide enabling environment for the organised private sector, (OPS) to operate optimally.

He, however, assured that the government would not relent in its oars in ensuring that the state continues to be secure.

“We assure you that we will continue to do our best in providing stable and secure environment across the state,” he added.

Namadi, who is the Chairman of the Ease of Doing Business Steering Committee, pointed out that the state had over the years, embarked on reforms aimed at providing the enabling environment for the private sector to operate smoothly.

“These reforms culminated in the decision by this administration to constitute EDB steering committee in 2017, with membership cutting across all spheres of the business environment.

“Indeed, our administration’s efforts have yielded fruits which resulted in our high rankings among states, second in 2018 world bank doing business survey and third PEBEC’s 2020 sub-national ease of doing business survey.

In her address at the event, the Director-General of the agency, Hajiya Furera Isma, said the state has over the years, embarked on reforms aimed at creating enabling environment for the private sector to grow.

Isma said the state government has embarked on reforms that would ensure a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive, especially the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs.)
She explained that the reforms
were coordinated by the Ease of Doing Business Steering Committee, with InvestJigawa as its Secretariat.

The DG added that some of the reforms carried out included the establishment of Small Claims Court, Business Clinics for MSMEs, e-registration, the proposed contributory healthcare program for MSMEs, and ensuring a secure and stable environment.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Muhammad Zakar, the state Chairman of National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) lauded the agency for organising the one-day consultation meeting for the OPS in the state, as well as the government’s effort in facilitating their investments through favourable policies, incentives as well as minimising bottlenecks for business operators.