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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening economic and developmental cooperation with Angola’s Bengo Province, describing implementation of signed agreements as more critical than the signing itself.
Governor Sule stated this on Tuesday at the Government House, Lafia, during the unveiling of NASACO Rice, an initiative linked to the cooperation pact between Nasarawa State and Bengo Province.
The governor commended the technical teams from both sides for their dedication, noting that the partnership was built on shared realities and complementary strengths.
“As Her Excellency earlier mentioned, Bengo Province was initially overshadowed because of its closeness to Luanda, the national capital of Angola. We face a similar situation in Nasarawa State due to our proximity to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” Sule said.
He explained that although the FCT was once part of Nasarawa State, its location has now become a strategic advantage, especially in attracting investments.
According to him, both governments identified key areas of cooperation after examining Nasarawa’s competitive strengths in mining, agriculture, oil and gas, education and healthcare.
“I sincerely thank everyone for carefully examining these areas and identifying practical ways of achieving results. While the signing of the agreement today is important, the implementation of the agreement is even more important to us,” the governor stressed.
Governor Sule said the partnership would begin with human capital development and training, which he described as the most effective entry point.
“We have identified areas where Bengo Province has advantages over Nasarawa State in agriculture, and also areas where Nasarawa has strengths over Bengo. We believe we can leverage these advantages and begin from there,” he said.
He added that similar capacity-building efforts would be extended to the mining sector, while oil and gas cooperation was already under discussion with Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company.
“Most of their operations are offshore, while they are interested in expanding onshore. Nasarawa State is positioning itself for 100 per cent onshore operations, and this presents a strong opportunity for collaboration,” Sule explained.
The governor also highlighted the commissioning of a one-stop investment centre as a major outcome of the visit, saying it demonstrated Nasarawa’s readiness to host foreign investors.
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“This facility will allow investors to complete all necessary processes in one place. There could not have been a better demonstration of our seriousness than commissioning this building,” he said.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), Ibrahim Abdullahi, described the event as historic, noting that it symbolised the friendship and solidarity between Nigeria and Angola.
“Today is a historic day for our two provinces because we are taking the necessary steps to achieve our goals,” he said, adding that the agreement would advance cooperation in economics, environment and social development.
He noted that the treaty reflected longstanding brotherhood between the two countries, recalling Nigeria’s support for Angola during its struggle for independence.
“Nigeria played a crucial role in the moments that preceded the proclamation of our independence. In those moments of uncertainty, Nigeria stood by Angola,” he said.
According to him, Nasarawa and Bengo share vast potential in agriculture, mining and energy, which would form the backbone of the cooperation, alongside culture, education, tourism, sports and technical training.
“The agreement will be implemented through actions, projects and programmes that the two provinces agree to execute, supported by a permanent joint committee that will meet at least once a year,” he added.
Also speaking, the Farm Coordinator and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Hon Muhammed Ehimoga, disclosed that over 500 indigenes of Nasarawa State had been employed through the farm project.
“Our people are already benefiting directly, as more than 500 Nasarawa indigenes have been engaged in the farm,” he said.
In his remarks, the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage (rtd), commended Governor Sule for prioritising food security in the state, saying the initiative would help ensure steady food supply for the people of Nasarawa State.
He urged stakeholders to protect and sustain the project to guarantee long-term benefits for the state.
The event marked another milestone in Nasarawa State’s drive to leverage international sub-national partnerships for economic growth and job creation.
