Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has met private investors for the proposed additional joint venture partnerships in the area of housing and biodiesel production.
Engineer Sule met with representatives of Halimat Alameen Nigeria Limited, an Abuja-based construction company, as well as that of a Malaysian firm, Bionas, at the Government House, on Wednesday.
The Governor met with representatives of Halimat Alameen Nigeria Limited, as part of the selection process for bidders that will handle the proposed Race Course Joint Venture that will see the state government construct a housing estate in Karu Local Government Area.
According to Engineer Sule, his administration has different approaches to developing properties belonging to the state, stressed that having previously experimented with site and services, where lands were allocated to companies and individuals to develop, the state government has decided to approach private sector developers for joint partnership.
The Governor recalled the first of such joint venture partnership entered into three weeks ago, for the development of the Peninsula Estate.
Engineer Sule said, the meeting with the Halimat Alameen Nigeria Limited, being part of the process for the signing of a second joint venture agreement, was to ensure transparency and accountability and consistency with the law.
He said because of the significance his administration attached to the project, since it involved a second major asset of the state, both himself and his deputy were attending the meeting, in order to ensure that whoever is selected to handle the project, will be of mutual benefit both for the institution, as well as for the state.
Meanwhile, representatives of Bionas Nigeria, a world leading brand in the production and distribution of biofuels and fuel additives, has approached the state government for a joint venture partnership for the production of biodiesel from the jathropa plant.
Leader of the delegation from Bionas, Mallam Usman Magawata, undertook a brief presentation of the business opportunities being proposed by the company, mostly in the area of biofuel and energy production.
He disclosed that Bionas is expected to sign a joint partnership venture with the state government, with Nasarawa State not expected to spend money but to allocate a piece of land for the project as equity.
“The project is more or less, targeted at the youth, who will be settled on designated land, where they will produce the jetropha, with the company ready to build schools, houses, recreational facilities, on the facility,” Magawata said.
He added that through the project, the twin issues of unemployment and insecurity, will be addressed.
Responding, Engineer Sule, described the project as important, especially that Nasarawa State is an agricultural state and with the available market for biodiesel, aside of the employment and revenue generating opportunities.
