Gov. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Thursday in Abuja received a delegation of Chinese investors from the China Overseas Engineering Group Company (COVEC), who expressed interest in investing in agriculture, energy and industrial development in the state.
The meeting, held at the Gombe Governor’s Lodge, was also attended by officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).
COVEC signified its intention to establish an integrated agricultural park in Gombe with components such as large-scale mechanisation, agro-processing, livestock development, renewable energy and export-oriented value chains.
The company said it planned to deploy advanced Chinese agricultural technologies and infrastructure models to drive rural transformation and sustainable development.
Speaking at the meeting, Yahaya said Gombe offered a favourable investment climate, underpinned by its strategic location, investor-friendly policies and natural resources.
“Gombe is a viable destination for investment, particularly in agriculture, commerce and enterprise. We are ready to receive investors and offer all necessary incentives to encourage them,’’ he said.
The governor explained that the state had already put in place major infrastructure projects to support such partnerships, including the 1,000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, located near Dadinkowa Dam with its 40-megawatt hydroelectric power plant.
He also highlighted other opportunities, notably the Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve and an ongoing livestock development zone, positioning Gombe as a hub for livestock value chains.
The governor further pointed to the state’s water resources anchored by three major dams: Dadinkowa, Balanga and Cham. He noted that Balanga Dam alone could irrigate over 11,000 hectares of farmland, making it suitable for large-scale irrigation and commercial agriculture.
On solid minerals, Yahaya told the investors that Gombe was endowed with limestone, uranium and other minerals that could support ventures such as cement manufacturing and mineral processing.
“We are fully prepared to partner with serious investors to harness our God-given resources for the benefit of our people and our economy,’’ he added.
Responding, the leader of the COVEC delegation said the meeting had been both insightful and strategic, giving the team a clearer picture of the state’s agricultural and industrial potential.
He said the engagement laid the groundwork for concrete investment decisions, adding that the team would soon visit Gombe to begin follow-up activities.
Also speaking, Director of Strategic Services at NIPC, Abubakar Yarima, who represented the Executive Secretary, said such projects could attract substantial foreign direct investment, create jobs and engage smallholder farmers across the agricultural value chain.
“The central location and enabling policies of Gombe make it a natural hub for agro-industrial growth,’’ Yarima said.
He urged the state government to leverage the opportunity to deepen its entry into foreign markets, a goal consistently pursued by Gov. Yahaya.
