By Muhammad Garba
Jigawa State has reaffirmed its status as Nigeria’s most promising destination for agricultural investment, with Governor Malam Umar Namadi declaring that the state possesses unmatched natural, infrastructural, and human resources to support large-scale agribusiness.
The governor made this assertion on Wednesday while receiving a high-powered delegation of Chinese investors from Wuhan Province at the Government House, Dutse, during a courtesy visit aimed at exploring agricultural investment opportunities in the state.
Led by Senator Mubarak Ahmad Tijjani and Professor Guo Bao Yuan, the delegation is on an agricultural investment scouting mission and has already toured farmlands across several parts of Jigawa State.
Addressing the visitors, Governor Namadi assured them of Jigawa’s openness to genuine partnerships, describing the state as “ready for business” and firmly positioned to support investments across agriculture and its value chains.
“Your visit to Jigawa State is highly appreciated because you are coming with good news—to invest in our land,” the governor said. “I want to assure you that Jigawa State is fully prepared to partner with credible investors.”
He described Jigawa as a predominantly agrarian state with vast expanses of fertile land, noting that about 1.4 million hectares are cultivable, including more than 400,000 hectares of fertile fadama land suitable for diverse crop production.
“This is a land where you can grow almost anything you can think of,” he said.
Beyond land availability, Governor Namadi highlighted Jigawa’s competitive advantages, stressing that the state ranks second nationwide in ease of doing business, is widely regarded as Nigeria’s most peaceful state, and boasts what he described as the country’s best road network.
“We are second in ease of doing business in Nigeria; we are the most peaceful state in the country; and we are number one in terms of road networks,” he added.
The governor further revealed that agriculture contributes about 46 percent of Jigawa’s Gross Domestic Product, with nearly 80 percent of the population engaged in farming. He also noted that over 35 percent of the state’s population are youths, presenting a ready workforce for agricultural expansion.
“In terms of production, Jigawa ranks number one in wheat, sesame, and hibiscus, and we are among the top rice-producing states in Nigeria,” he said.
On livestock development, Governor Namadi disclosed that Jigawa hosts one of the largest livestock markets in Africa and that the state’s airport has recently been approved for cargo operations—a development expected to significantly boost agricultural exports.
He also drew attention to Jigawa’s pilot alfalfa production project, initiated two years ago, which he said has since become a national reference point, attracting interest from investors and policymakers across the country.
To further simplify investment processes, the governor explained that Jigawa operates a one-stop investment facilitation agency, InvestJigawa, and is currently developing an industrial cluster and an Export Processing Zone to support industrial-scale production and export.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Professor Guo Bao Yuan said the investors were following up on strategic engagements held with the Jigawa State Government in Wuhan during the China–Africa Cooperation and Development Forum last year.
He said the team had closely studied Governor Namadi’s vision for agriculture, agricultural innovation, and livestock development and had identified concrete areas of investment interest.
“We have understood with keen interest your vision as the state executive—particularly in agriculture, agricultural innovation, and livestock development,” Professor Yuan said.
He disclosed that the delegation had visited parts of Jigawa State, including Hadejia, where they inspected available land for livestock development and alfalfa production, as well as existing pilot and private farms.
Professor Yuan further revealed that the investors are introducing advanced hybrid seedlings, some of which are already undergoing trial cultivation at the Centre for Dryland Agriculture and the Institute for Agricultural Research.
The visit, observers say, signals growing international confidence in Jigawa State’s agricultural reforms and strengthens its bid to become a major agro-export and livestock development hub in Nigeria and West Africa.
January 22, 2026
