By Usman Usman Garba and Rabi’u Sunusi
Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Gerawa is the General Managing Director of Gerawa Group Company. In his interview with members of journalists in his office, he explained how Governor Yusuf transforms Kano and way forward on businesses at this current administration.
Excerpt:
Q: Thank you for granting us this interview. To begin with, how would you assess the performance of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in his third years anniversary in office so far?
Gerawa: Thank you very much. First and foremost, I want to say that since the assumption of office of His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State has witnessed a significant level of peace and relative stability.
Peace is very important for business. Without peace, no investor can thrive, and no meaningful development can take place. I can confidently say that the governor has created an enabling environment where business people, both small and large scale, can operate without unnecessary disturbances.
This administration has shown a level of openness and willingness to engage the private sector, and that has made a lot of difference.
Q: In what specific ways has this peaceful environment affected your company and business operations?
Gerawa: For us in Gerawa Group, the impact has been very visible. In recent years, whenever people hear “Gerawa,” what comes to mind is rice production. But beyond that, we have expanded into construction, infrastructure, and other sectors.
Today, our company is not only focused on food production but also on road construction and agricultural value chains.
For example, we have successfully completed road projects, including the Gezawa axis project of about five kilometers in Kano. This is part of our contribution to state development.
The peaceful environment created by the government has made it possible for us to expand operations into multiple locations across Kano State.
Q: What is your view on the current economic situation, especially regarding food prices and agriculture?
Gerawa: The agricultural sector is facing serious challenges, not only in Kano but across the country. In the last year or so, many farmers have struggled to make profits due to rising costs of production.
Although there has been some stabilization in food prices, especially rice, many farmers are still not making enough profit compared to their investment.
This is why I always say government must support farmers more aggressively. If farmers are not encouraged, food production will suffer, and the entire economy will feel it.
Q: You recently called for collaboration among Northern governors. Can you explain what exactly you mean?
Gerawa: Yes, I strongly believe that Northern governors must unite and work together as one economic bloc, especially in agriculture.
We need a system where fertilizers, seedlings, and other farm inputs are heavily subsidized. If farmers can access these inputs at affordable prices, production will increase, and profitability will also improve.
Beyond that, we must also invest in food processing industries. It is not enough to only produce raw agricultural goods; we must process and add value so that farmers and investors can both benefit.
If this is done properly, the North can become the food basket of Nigeria and even West Africa.
Q: What role do you think private companies like Gerawa Group should play in this agricultural transformation?
Gerawa: Private companies have a very important role to play. Government alone cannot do everything. At Gerawa Group, we see ourselves as partners in development. We invest in agriculture, we support farmers indirectly through our supply chain, and we also ensure that essential commodities like rice remain available and affordable.
We are also involved in job creation. Today, we employ a large number of workers, and we ensure that no employee earns below a reasonable standard wage. Even before allowances, we maintain fair compensation because we believe in dignity of labour.
Q: There is a perception that Gerawa Group has expanded rapidly in recent years. What has driven this growth?
Gerawa: The expansion you see today is the result of consistency, patience, and strategic partnership.
We started as an oil trading company, but over time we diversified into rice production, agriculture, road construction, and infrastructure development.
Our growth is also connected to our relationship with government and our commitment to supporting development policies. Whenever there is a government initiative that aligns with our capacity, we participate actively.
Q:What challenges is your company currently facing?
Gerawa: Like every other business in Nigeria, we face several challenges.
These include high taxation, rising cost of operations, unstable power supply, and regulatory bottlenecks. These challenges affect productivity and sometimes slow down expansion plans.
However, we continue to engage with relevant authorities to find solutions, because we believe Nigeria still has huge potential.
Q: Finally, what is your message to Northern leaders and stakeholders?
Gerawa: My message is simple: unity and cooperation. Northern governors must work together, especially in agriculture and food production. They must subsidize fertilizers and support farmers with modern equipment and processing facilities.
If we do this, farmers will stop incurring losses, and agriculture will become a profitable venture.
I also believe that with continued progress, strong leadership, and economic stability, leaders who are performing well today may be recognized at higher levels in the future based on their achievements.
Closing Remark:
The interview ended with Dr. Gerawa reaffirming his commitment to supporting economic growth, job creation, and food security in Kano State and across Northern Nigeria, while urging stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.