December 07, (THEWILL) – Jigawa State was created on August 27, 1991 from the northeastern-most region of Kano State. It is located on Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic. The state capital and largest city is Dutse.
The economy of the state is largely dependent on agriculture. Due to its semi-arid climate, outward migration by workers to neighbouring states, such as Kano, in search of off-season work is common. The scarcity of arable land within the state has become increasingly problematic, with farmlands being vulnerable to national disasters like flooding.
Jigawa’s economy is largely characterised by informal sector activities, with agriculture as the major economic engagement. Over 80 percent of the population depends on subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Trade and commerce, especially in agricultural products, livestock and other consumer goods, takes place on both small and medium scales.
Other informal sector activities include blacksmithing, leatherworks, tailoring services, automobile repairs, metalworks, carpentry, tanning, dyeing, food processing and masonry.
Although the modern industrial sector is yet to gain a solid footing in the state, the seed for its development was planted through the establishment of small-scale industries, particularly in areas of food processing and other agro-allied activities, such as the Jigawa ethanol programme. These industries have been aided by the Information Communication Technology programme initiated by the state government over the years.
Jigawa is famous for the Dutsen Habude Cave paintings in the town of Birnin Kudu, which have been traced to the Neolithic period. The town of Hadejia (formerly Biram) is known as one of the traditional ‘seven true Hausa states.’
Natural Mineral Resources
Jigawa is among Nigerian states reputed to have abundant mineral resources that could attract viable investment. These include copper, tin, iron ore, gold, trona ash and kaolin, many of which are currently undergoing exploitation. The Jigawa State Government disclosed in in December 2020 that it procured 11 mining licences from the Federal Ministry of Steel and Mines and called on interested investors to harness the mineral resources available in the area.
Tourist Attractions
Birnin Kudu Rock painting
Hadejia Wetlands
Wawan Rafi Lake Kazaure
Dutse Rock Range
Gwaram Forest Reserve
Emirs Palace Hadejia, Kazaure, Dutse Gumel, Ringim
Garin Gabas-Ancient Settlement
Capatian Philips (Maitumbi) Tomb Hadejia
Harbo Village Fishing Village
Maigatari Border
Mandara/Talata Gets in Hadejia
Dabar magini Birds Sanctuary in Guri
Baturiya Birds Sanctuary in Kiri-kassamma
Agribusiness
Agriculture is the mainstay of Jigawa State’s economy as it contributes more than 60 per cent of the GDP and provides a livelihood for close to 90 per cent of the state`s population. The sector is robust and fast growing. Recent government interventions are helping the state to move from subsistence to commercial farming. Investors are therefore welcome to tap into the agricultural investment revolution sweeping across the state.
Crop production
Jigawa State is one of the largest crops producing states in Nigeria. It is currently Nigeria’s largest producer of dates and hibiscus. The state is also the second largest producer of gum arabic and sesame, as well as being among the top three rice producing states.
Food Production and Processing
According to the state government, there is a huge potential in terms of food processing. Already, food processing companies such as Sonia Foods Industries Limited and Erisco Foods Limited have significant presence in the state.
Notwithstanding that Jigawa is highly competitive in rice, sesame, groundnut, wheat, soya beans, sugarcane and tomato production, the government says that the agricultural sector’s vast potential is currently under-utilised. For example, only a fraction of the available irrigable land is being cultivated and of the state’s Fadama land of approximately 400,000 hectares, only about 25 percent has been developed. There are tremendous opportunities for private sector investments in agriculture and agro-processing.
Livestock Production
Jigawa is also a major livestock producing state. Its weather is conducive for the rearing of animals, birds and fish, thereby creating opportunities for the establishment of slaughterhouses, cold storage and transport facilities. Investors are also encouraged to venture into dairy production, tannery development, animal feed mills, etc. The state has an appreciable livestock population – estimated at over 3 million cattle, about 6 million sheep and close to 7 million goats. The estimated population of poultry is 16 million. Jigawa State also has the largest livestock market in West Africa, located at Maigatari in Maigatari local government area.
FACT-FILE:
LGAs: 27
Land Area: 23,154 km2
Registered businesses: 23
Public primary schools: 1,870 circa
Public secondary schools: No data
University (2): Federal – 1, state – 1.
Polytechnic (2): Federal – 1, state – 1
College of Education: State – 1
College of Agriculture: State – 2
School of Nursing: State – 1
Technical schools: State – 4
Vocational schools: State – 3
Total revenue: N65.04bn @ 2020
Total tax: N @ N6.17bn @ 2020
Total IGR: N8.66bn @ 2020 (13.33% of total revenue)
FAAC: N56.36bn @ 2020 (86.67% of total revenue)
Domestic debt: N30.96bn @ 2020
External debt: $30.91m @ 2020
Unemployment rate: 38.369 @ 2020
Airport: 1
Jigawa Prioritises Economic Infrastructure, SMEs, Human Capital
Jigawa State has intensified efforts in the development of infrastructure for economic growth, such as roads, electricity, telecommunication and information technology, all of which are witnessing tremendous improvements through rehabilitation and expansion works.
With significant road rehabilitation projects already undertaken throughout the state during the last five years, coupled with efforts made towards power generation via independent power platforms and the Internet Broadband Project, the investment climate, in terms of economic infrastructure, is quite promising.
The Jigawa State Government said it has expended about N300 million on the building and renovation of schools damaged by rainstorm, while procuring furniture for them as part of its resolve to boost science and technical education in the state.
The government said it allocated more than 400,000 hectares of farmland to potential investors in the state’s agriculture value chain. It added that 35,000 hectares out of the approved 400,000 had already been allocated to companies developing the state’s agriculture complex, citing the Mallam ALU Integrated Agro-Allied Farm as an example of the scheme’s success so far.
In April 2021, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo launched the 28th edition of the National Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic in Jigawa State, which is designed to bring business opportunities closer to the people. Osinbajo launched the facility during a one-day working visit to the state.
He said the MSME Clinic was a collaborative project between the Federal and state governments to host all advisory and regulatory bodies of MSME in one place in order to avoid unnecessary delay and bottlenecks in the establishment and development of the businesses in Nigeria.
The Vice President reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to poverty eradication, growth and development by creating an enabling environment for the development of big, medium and small scale enterprises in Nigeria.
Osinbajo commended Governor Muhammdu Badaru Abubakar for his prudent and exemplary leadership, which makes Jigawa a pace-setter on agricultural and SMEs development in Nigeria.
In his speech, Governor Abubakar commended the Federal Government for executing various projects and programmes that enhanced education, as well as the social and economic development of the state. He said the state was intensifying its development drive in infrastructure, SMEs and human capital.
Challenging Factors: Insecurity, poor electricity supply, multiple taxes, traditional/cultural extremism, and draught.
*** BY SAM DIALA & OLAYEMI SHABA
About the Author
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
