Buhari wants attractive incentives for investors

For sustainable development and coordinated growth to take place, President Muhammadu Buhari has called on state governments across the country to offer attractive incentives as a way of wooing investors into their economies.

He made the call yesterday while opening the Katsina State Economic and Investment Summit, 2016, stressing that, for laudable transformation to take place, every player must do his part including the Federal Government.

“For global players, some of whom I am pleased to see their representatives here…must be given attractive incentives. Katsina State government appears to make offer to them through a liberal support of tax incentive, infrastructural support, faster and shorter development process to business request.

“These general offers are the minimum required to attract the critical investor, who is courted in every country and region of the world. ”

While calling on states along that line, the President said that the “Federal Government alone cannot deliver on the high expectations of our people. Katsina State government and people have shown the way, by assembling the brightest and the best from the business world. The best and brightest from the development partners, the best and the brightest from MDAs and regulatory bodies. Katsina state is doing its part. ”

According to President Buhari, all economic programmes must be tailored to environmentally safe and sustainable programme. “In this regard, the Federal Government shall work with Katsina State in rationalising our actions to avoid overlap or discontinuity or environmental damage, ” he promised.

He said the Federal Government would partner with any state government that shows promising initiative underpin by workable strategy, such as demonstrated by the Katsina State government with today’s kick-off.

While assuring participants that employment is the fastest and easiest way to escape poverty, he therefore called on them to understand the importance of calling investors and create conducive atmosphere for them.

In his remarks, the governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari said Katsina State Development Plan 2016-2020 with the capital of about N700 billion was in place to also encourage investors.

“We will support all investors, but we will give much priority to those that indicate interest in our key priority areas. We are also calling on investors to concentrate on rural areas, ” he pleaded.