By Jedidah Silas Kiman
Gombe
In an effort to diversify its economy, the Gombe state government has inaugurated a seven-man committee to resuscitate its mango and tomato factory, known as the Manto Processing Company, which had been established in 2000.
Inaugurating the committee in Gombe, the Acting Secretary to the Government, Mr. James Pisagih, said reviving the factory became necessary in order to explore other means of ensuring economic growth of the state.
Pisagih said the effort was also in response to the call by the National Economic Summit which directed that states should look for areas away from oil revenue sources to boost the economy as a result of dwindling global oil prices and its effect on Nigeria’s economy.
According to him, the committee had been directed to find the way forward in reviving the mango and tomato processing factory, so as to create jobs, generate more revenue and empower the people of the area.
He also said the committee had been given four weeks to make the company work.
On his part, the chairman of the committee, Alhaji Dahiru Babiri, pledged to find practical ways to revive the factory.
Babiri noted that “a functional factory of a kind can achieve additional peace.”
