Katsina State has taken a significant leap forward in its economic development drive as two major investors have officially redeemed their financial pledges made during a recent investment summit. The commitments, totaling a substantial N52 billion, are now being channeled directly into the state's agricultural and agro-processing sectors.
From Pledge to Action: Investors Move to Site
The Director-General of the Katsina Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA), Ibrahim Jikamshi, confirmed that both TORQ Agro Nigeria Limited and Al-Hikma Fertiliser and Chemicals Nigeria Limited have fulfilled the promises they made at the Katsina State Economic Investment Summit in November last year. Jikamshi revealed that TORQ Agro Nigeria Limited is already on the ground and operational within the state, while arrangements are finalized for Al-Hikma Limited to begin construction imminently.
This development represents a concrete outcome from the three-day summit, which successfully attracted investment pledges worth over N489.4 billion from dozens of local and foreign investors across various sectors. The redemption of these two pledges marks a critical first step in turning summit promises into tangible projects.
Breaking Down the Multi-Billion Naira Investments
The scale and focus of the two investments are set to significantly reshape the agricultural landscape in Katsina. TORQ Agro Nigeria Limited is injecting over $33.5 million (more than N45 billion) into a diversified portfolio. Their projects encompass large-scale poultry farming, oilseed processing, and the development of robust agro-industry value chains, with specific emphasis on soybeans processing and the establishment of an oil refinery.
On its part, Al-Hikma Limited is committing $3.5 million (approximately N5 billion) to establish an agro-allied processing factory. The company has adopted a phased approach, starting with an initial N1 billion investment focused on fertiliser and agro-chemical production, supply, and seed multiplication at the project site. Plans are already in place to scale this investment up to the full N5 billion in the coming years.
Both projects are slated to be located within the Batagarawa Local Council, promising to bring concentrated economic activity and job creation to the area.
Expected Impact and Governance Framework
According to DG Jikamshi, this massive inflow of private capital is anticipated to have a transformative effect. The primary goals are to improve the availability of agricultural inputs, boost overall productivity, and critically, to deepen value-chain development across the entire state. This move from basic farming to integrated processing and refining is key to capturing more value locally and increasing farmer incomes.
To ensure these investments are sustainable and beneficial to the community, the state government has proactively established a governance structure. Jikamshi noted that through an Executive Order, the state has adopted the Framework for Responsible Inclusive Land Intensive Agricultural Investment (FRILIA). Both the government and the investors are expected to operate within this framework, which is designed to promote responsible and inclusive agricultural practices that protect community interests.
The successful materialization of these pledges serves as a strong signal to other potential investors and underscores Katsina State's growing reputation as a viable and serious destination for agribusiness investment in Nigeria.
