From: Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin-Kebbi

The Kebbi State Government has said that it had concluded arrangements with Jaiz Bank to start exporting 2, 000 goats daily to Saudi Arabia as part of measures to boost its Internal Generated Revenue (IGR).

Commissioner for Budget and Economy Planning, Alhaji Jailani Muhammad Yauri, confirmed this arrangement at the weekend while speaking with journalists.

The Commissioner also disclosed that the state was planning border trades with Niger and Benin Republic as well as collaborate with Sokoto, Zamfara states to utilise economy comparative advantage on agriculture common among them instead of relying on statutory allocations.

According to Yauri, ” We had discussed with Jaiz Bank and we told them we can be supply Saudi Arabia goats because they are slaughter 2,000 goats everyday in Saudi Arabia. I am sure many of our people would take on to this comparative advantage we have by the time we start.

“We are also planning borders trade with Niger and Benin Republics. If we can legalised it,it would boost our IGR too.”

Yauri, who lamented over lack of long-term economy planning in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, noted that they could not compete with Kaduna and Kano states which are hubs of entrepreneurs.

“Three of us, Commissioners of Economy in Kebbi ,Sokoto and Zamfara states have agreed to come together, brainstorm and design long-term economic plans for ourselves. We have common potential which is agriculture. Kebbi is producing rice; let us utilise comparative advantage of agriculture we have and attract investors.”

Speaking on budget implementation in the state, Yauri disclosed that the present administration failed to meet up in 2016 because there was not enough funds to finance the budget stressed that his Ministry also lack Professionals to champion the course.

“It is very sad that in this part of this country of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, we don’t have functional economy plans. Most often, we depend on twelves months physical planning. If the developed countries stopped buy fuel from us,what would happen to our economy?

“We have to domestic our economy. For instance, 20 litres of groundnut oil cost than 20 litres of petroleum. So, if we confined ourselves to agriculture, we can have a sustainable economy”.

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