Niger State woos Dangote, private investors for Bida Basin Oil exploration

By Johnson Arua

The Niger State Government has invited the Dangote Group and other private sector investors to explore investment opportunities in crude oil exploration within the Bida Basin, as part of efforts to boost economic growth and industrial development in the state.

Speaking during a fireside session organised on the Dangote Special Day at the recently concluded Niger National Trade Fair in Minna, the Commissioner for Trade, Investment, Industry and Private Sector Development, Hon. Aminu Suleiman Takuma, said the state was actively partnering with private sector operators through its One-Stop-Shop investment model to unlock the crude oil potential of the Bida Basin.

Takuma explained that the government plans to retain only a minimal equity stake in the project under a Joint Venture-Public Private Partnership arrangement, noting that the administration is focused on creating an enabling environment for investors.

He praised the Dangote Group for its contributions to industrialisation, particularly the construction of what he described as the world’s largest single-train refinery, while reaffirming the state government’s commitment to investor-friendly policies across critical sectors of the economy.

Regional Director and Senior Adviser to Aliko Dangote, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, described the Dangote Group as a dependable partner of Niger State, highlighting the company’s investment in rice processing in Wushishi.

She commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for introducing policies that encourage investment and economic expansion, assuring that the Dangote Group would continue to strengthen its partnership with the state government.

The discussion panel also featured the Commissioners for Homeland Security as well as Agriculture and Food Security, while the representative of the Emir of Minna, Dr. Umar Bakai, attended the event.

The Dangote Group was the major sponsor of the trade fair.