By Gambo Jagindi
February 23, 2020
Engineer Sule seeks partnership with banks for rapid development
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has solicited for the cooperation and partnership of banks operating in the state to enable his administration execute key policies aimed at bringing rapid development across the state.
Engineer Sule made the call while speaking as special guest of honour at the 2019 year ending Lafia Bankers dinner and award night, which held in Lafia, on Saturday.
The Governor who noted that without the support of the banks, most of the economic plan and policy direction of his administration may remain unrealized, buttressed the readiness of the state government to do business with the banks.
Highlighting on major areas of interest, Engineer Sule unfolded the Nasarawa State Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), with specific attention on promoting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
While acknowledging that some banks are already promoting MSMEs in the state, he however called for further collaboration, especially with the recent visit of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in order to work with the state towards ensuring the establishment of MSMEs.
Engineer Sule equally sought the support of financial institutions in bringing to fruition the Federal Government driven National Livestock Transformation Programme, with already six locations identified across the state, with work on two about to commence soon.
“It’s actually going to be more of a livestock market, where the meat, skin work, yoghurt, and all other support services, will be part and parcel of the business. That will not go anywhere without the support of the banks,” he stated.
On the Karu International Market, the Governor disclosed that following the arrival of big traders from Kano to take up shops in the market, there is need to have a bank operating inside the premises, considering the volume of money being used.
He also sought the partnership of banks at the ongoing Karu Mega Bus Terminus, which is being envisioned to be the biggest revenue earner for the state, with the bus stop able to park 900 vehicles at a time.
“With that, we will be able to eliminate any other bus stop within the Masaka-Mararaba-Karu-Nyanya area. By doing so, we are also going to establish banks inside the terminal.
“Everything we are doing, we are taking you into consideration to make sure that we do business together,” Engineer Sule told the bankers.
Speaking at the event earlier, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning, Haruna Adamu Ogbole, urged banks operating in the state to consider issuing single digit loans to prospecting customers.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Chairman, Lafia Bankers Committee, who doubles as Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Samson Isuwa, said the dinner and award night provide the opportunity to showcase what the CBN, in conjunction with the banks, have been able to do last year, to make sure that the economy of the state and country at large, is up and doing.
As part of activities at the dinner, the Bankers Committee presented Engineer Sule with an award of excellence, based on his sterling leadership qualities since his assumption of office.