The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria is one of the most successful industries in Sokoto State.

Name: Mai'akwai Mu'azu Lamido
Position: Commissioner of Commerce, Industries and Tourism

1) Give us an overview of the industrial sector in Sokoto State.

We currently have the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, we have a furniture factory, a foam factory, a leather industry, etc. Some of our industries are functioning but some are not currently in operation. The present administration is looking to see what we can do to revive these industries.

2) What are the opportunities in industrial manufacturing for local and foreign investors?

We have a lot of opportunities in Sokoto State. Like in the solid minerals sector, we have phosphate, gypsum, limestone and kaolin in abundance. These are all good industrial materials. Also for agriculture, we have sorghum, millet and an abundance of other crops where investors can come in and set-up processing factories.

3) What is the state government doing to attract investment into industries?

The state government has incentives which are designed to attract investors to Sokoto State. For the agricultural industries, government will provide infrastructure such as roads, water supply and electricity. We will also provide investors with all the land they require. Apart from that we will give them easy access to information on raw materials. Depending on the industry, investors will also receive a tax holiday of three to five years.

4) Tell us more about the planned Chinese investments in Sokoto State.

There is a Chinese group who wants to plant sweet sorghum from which they want to produce ethanol. Then there is another group, also from China, who has shown an interest to establish a bus and motorcycle assembly facility.

5) There is a plan to set-up a free trade zone (FTZ) near the border with Niger, can you please give us an overview of this project?

The planned FTZ is an initiative between the state government and the federal government. We are proposing to establish it near Ilela, which is a town near Niger Republic where there is an international market. We are going to visit some of the other FTZs in Nigeria and will come back and draw-up a proper proposal. I think it will be important to have a strong focus on agriculture related industries in the zone.