Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Thursday urged exporters in the country to explore and exploit the export potentials of the state.
He made the call in Lafia at a one-day sensitisation seminar organised by the North Central Coordinating Office of the Nigerian Shippers Council with the theme “Tapping the export potentials of Nasarawa State”.
Al-Makura, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Emmanuel Yaji, said the state was endowed with enormous solid minerals, including high quality precious stones, semi-precious stones and precious metals.
Others are metallic and non-metallic minerals as well as mineral fuel that are of high economic value.
He said that apart from solid minerals, the state was blessed with agricultural and tourism potentials which prospective investors could invest in, thereby taking advantage of the existing market within and outside the country.
Al-Makura commended the council for considering the state worthy to market its enormous export potentials.
“The Nigerian shipper’s council, I reliably gathered, protects the interest of importers and exporters in the course of their shipments.
“I have no doubt that their services and enlightenment seminar today will launch a lot of people here into export trade tomorrow,” he said.
Mr Akintunde Foloruso, the Acting Zonal Controller, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Markurdi Zonal Office and one of the resource persons at the seminar, urged Nigerians and prospective investors to take advantage of the solid mineral deposits in Nasarawa.
According to him, some of the minerals have the prospect of being found on an economic scale, like marble, high quality glass sand, clay, barite, precious stone and tin.
Folorunso said that these minerals could be found in different parts of the state, including Toto, Awe, Udegi, Wamba, Lafia, Keffi, Karu, Kokona, Obi and Nasarawa Eggon local government areas.
