Nasarawa State Government has stressed its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Ethiopia.

Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, gave the assurance last week, when he received the Ethiopian ambassador to Nigeria at Government House, Lafia.

The governor, who described Ethiopia as the cradle of African civilization, said his administration would exploit the numerous advantages in the areas of culture and tourism, agriculture, and business to enhance the economy of the state.

He said the state’s rich cultural heritage would receive a boost once the bilateral relationship was strengthened.

Governor Doma appealed to the Ethiopian ambassador to help woo investors and business partners to invest in Nasarawa State’s rich mineral and agricultural potentials, assuring that the state government would provide conducive atmosphere for foreign investors.

The governor promised to encourage investors from Nasarawa State to visit Ethiopia to participate in the forthcoming Ethiopian/Nigerian conference on business billed to take place later this month.

Earlier, the Ethiopian ambassador to Nigeria, Alhaji Suleiman Dedefur, said he was in Nasarawa State to help re-establish bilateral economic relationship between Ethiopia and Nasarawa State.

He noted that, if established, a bilateral agreement between the Nasarawa State and Ethiopia would help create wealth and job opportunities for the indigenes of the state.

Ambassador Dedefur, however, appealed to corporate organizations and private individuals to partner with the Ethiopian government, noting that “economic ties between Nasarawa State and Ethiopia will be beneficial to the state.”

He, however, expressed his dissatisfaction over the weak economic link between Nigeria and Ethiopia since independence, saying, “it’s a trend that needs to be discouraged.”

In another development, communities in Nasarawa State have been called upon to initiate projects that would be beneficial to them.

Commissioner for local government and community development, Alhaji Bagudu Usman Danlami, gave the advice last week at the official commissioning of Okpagada bridge constructed by ex-corper Akindel Ahmed Olugbenga as his community development project in Obi Local Government Area.

Alhaji Danlami stated that the Aliyu Doma led- administration was ready to assist any community that excels in community development projects.

The commissioner urged communities to take advantage of government’s gesture and embark on self-help projects to better the lot of their people.

While commending the effort of the ex-corper, Mr. Olugbenga, the commissioner said that the project has helped in linking the people of Obi and Jenkwe.

On his part, Director, Personal Management (DPM), Obi LGA, Alhaji Osuza Sule, commended governor Aliyu Akwe Doma for focusing government policies on the needs and welfare of people at the grassroots.

Alhaji Sule appealed to the state government to construct a standard roundabout to link Obi and Atabula to ease the suffering of the rural dwellers.

The DPM said the gesture by Olugbenga (bridge) would improve the socio-economic well-being of farmers in the area, commending the completion of the project before the start of the rainy season.

He promised to support the administration of Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma by providing purposeful leadership to the people in the area.

Meanwhile, Malam Akindele Ahmed Olugbenga, the ex-corper, has expressed his gratitude to governor Aliyu Akwe Doma for the cash award of N300,000.00 given to him as a gesture of appreciation from the government.

Malam Olugbenga said the sum of N2,742,925.00 was spent on the Okpagadu bridge which took six months to complete. He commended all those who contributed to the success of the project.

Akindele Ahmed Olugbenga, a graduate of agricultural economics and extension did his youth service at Government Secondary School, Atabula, in Obi Local Government Area.