Buhari urges Kaduna indigenes on peace, harmony

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, September 20, 2020 in Abuja challenged Kaduna State indigenes to cooperate with the government and security agencies to secure peace and harmony in the state.

He made the call at the virtual opening of the Fifth Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit, with the theme 'KADInvest 5.0, Infrastructure, Industrialization and Innovation'.

According to him, development will only take place when energies are collectively channelled to building, instead of destruction of lives and property.

“We must live together as brothers and sisters because without peace, development cannot take place.

“I wish to commend the efforts of the Kaduna State Government to establish its credentials as one of the new investment destinations of choice in Nigeria.

“These efforts have received just recognition in the response of the business community which has put in new investments in the state.

“This is a further affirmation of the ranking of the state as Number One for Ease of Doing Business by the World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2018.

“I call on the Kaduna State Government to keep up these laudable efforts and surpass the impressive results already attained," he said.

He added that the success of state governments in attracting investments, creating jobs and increasing their internally generated revenues would be critical to the development of the entire country.

“Therefore, I am impressed that the Kaduna State Government has from inception used KADInvest as a serious platform for showcasing its investment potentials.

“The state’s commitment to consistent implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Charter is exemplary, including its ability to increase its Internally Generated Revenue to N44bn in 2019 from N13bn in 2015 without hiking tax rates. This is very laudable."

The president lauded the Kaduna State government for making KADInvest a regular fixture on the investment calendar, held annually since 2016.

“It is a fitting statement of the resilience of the Kaduna State Government that it is able to host the 2020 edition amidst the severe disruptions to the normal order caused by COVID-19.

“This is the sort of determined focus that can help the country to navigate the challenging consequences of the pandemic.

“It was my pleasure to commission the Olam Hatchery and Feed Mill project in 2017, about 18 months after the ground-breaking was done at the first edition of KADInvest in 2016.

“It is commendable that investors like Tomato Jos are creating jobs in the agribusiness sector, taking advantage of Kaduna State’s prioritization of agriculture.

“I also note with delight the success of new investments in renewable energy like Blue Camel and tractor assembly and the revitalization of poultry farms across the state."