By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has called on Nigeria to process its raw materials locally instead of exporting them in their unprocessed form.
Abbas said this is crucial to stabilising the economy, creating jobs and increasing the value of Nigerian products.
He spoke in Kaduna at the inauguration of a maize flour and maize grits plant at the Zazzau Industrial Park and Industries (ZIPI).
The Speaker said Nigeria must prioritise industrialisation and increase domestic production, particularly in the agricultural sector.
He said processing maize locally would boost food security, reduce waste, create jobs and provide farmers with a reliable market for their produce.
According to Abbas, the maize value chain supports farmers, traders, transporters, factory workers and other businesses, making industrial processing important to reducing rural poverty.
He also encouraged local and foreign investors to invest in Nigeria, assuring them that the 10th House of Representatives would support genuine investments.
Abbas praised the Kaduna State Government for creating an environment that attracts investors, while stressing that government and the private sector must work together to drive economic development.
He said the House would continue to enact laws that protect and encourage industries producing goods in Nigeria.
