Gombe State is poised for a new wave of economic growth as Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya secured strong interest from Chinese investors in key sectors including agriculture, energy, and industrial development.
The development follows a high-level meeting with a delegation from the China Overseas Engineering Group Company (COVEC), held at the Gombe Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. Officials from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) also participated in the strategic engagement.
COVEC, a global engineering and infrastructure powerhouse, expressed readiness to partner with the Gombe State Government to drive transformative projects. Central to their proposal is the establishment of an integrated agricultural park focused on large-scale mechanised farming, agro-processing, livestock development, renewable energy, and export-oriented value chains.
The company also intends to introduce advanced Chinese agricultural technologies and infrastructure models aimed at fostering rural transformation and sustainable development.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya assured the delegation of Gombe’s commitment to providing a favourable investment climate, underscoring the state’s strategic location, investor-friendly policies, and rich natural resources.
“Gombe is a viable destination for investment, particularly in agriculture, commerce, and enterprise,” Yahaya said. “We are ready to receive investors and offer all necessary incentives to encourage them.”
The Governor outlined key infrastructure already in place to support such partnerships, notably the 1,000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park situated near the Dadinkowa Dam, which includes a 40-megawatt hydroelectric power plant.
He also identified the Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve and an emerging livestock development zone as major opportunities in the livestock sector.
Highlighting the state’s agricultural potential, Governor Yahaya noted that the Balanga Dam alone can irrigate more than 11,000 hectares of farmland, positioning Gombe for large-scale commercial farming.
In addition to agriculture and energy, the Governor pointed to the state’s untapped solid mineral resources including substantial deposits of limestone and uranium as opportunities for investment in cement production 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 affirmed.
COVEC’s delegation leader described the engagement as “insightful and strategic,” noting that the team now has a deeper understanding of Gombe’s economic potential. He confirmed that a follow-up visit to the state is being planned to lay the groundwork for full-scale investment operations.
Also speaking at the meeting, NIPC’s Director of Strategic Services, Abubakar Yarima who represented the agency’s Executive Secretary lauded the initiative, saying the proposed projects have the capacity to attract substantial foreign direct investment, create employment, and engage small holder farmers.
“The central location and enabling policies of Gombe make it a natural hub for agro-industrial growth,” Yarima added.
The talks, as noticed by WorldClass247News, mark a significant step in Governor Yahaya’s drive to position Gombe as one of Nigeria’s most attractive investment destinations.