By Oyintokoni Joel , Yenagoa
The Government of Lesotho and Bayelsa State have held talks on areas of economic cooperation, including agriculture, oil and gas, tourism, fisheries and textile warehousing.
The bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Rt. Hon. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, and the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, took place on Sunday at the State House in Maseru.
Governor Diri, who recalled an earlier meeting with Matekane in Abuja, said Bayelsa was interested in exploring areas of economic benefit, particularly where it has comparative advantages.
He said the state is rich in crude oil and large gas deposits, in addition to having the longest coastline in Nigeria, which places it at a strategic position in the Gulf of Guinea.
Governor Diri said: “I think this meeting was divinely orchestrated. The meeting in Abuja had so many other presidents and leaders, but at the end of the day, we were attracted to Lesotho, and Lesotho was equally attracted to us.
“Bayelsa was the first place in Nigeria where oil and gas was found in commercial quantities in 1956 by the British during colonial rule. So, Nigeria became an oil-producing country because of Bayelsa.”
He added that Bayelsa seeks collaboration in harnessing its coastal and maritime resources as well as tourism.
On industrialization, Diri disclosed that Bayelsa’s cassava starch extraction factory is now functional and targeted for export.
“Our cassava starch extraction factory is now functional and it was aimed for international export. The local demand in Nigeria is so high, but our target is export. Rice production is another commodity that has possibility for collaboration. Bayelsa is a massive wetland and the entire state is a rice belt,” he said.
On intra-African trade, Diri said it was time for African countries to trade more among themselves rather than with countries outside the continent.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA), Mrs. Patience Abah, said Bayelsa was following the general framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Abah said agreements reached remain words on paper unless participating states take steps to actualise them.
She said: “We have two claims to fame that no other state in Nigeria can make. We have the longest coastline in the country of at least 203 kilometres. The other is we have proven gas reserves exceeding 18 trillion cubic feet.
“We know Lesotho specialises and is a world leader in cold water production. But our ecosystem is different, with more of swampy terrain and fresh water. So, we can partner on resources like catfish, tilapia, shrimps, fish processing, and cold chain logistics.
“Using your expertise and terrain advantage, we can also partner on hydro energy as well as renewable and clean energy. Bayelsa can act as a strategic West African assembly point for warehousing and distribution of your finished textiles.”
In his remarks, the Lesotho Prime Minister, Ntsokoane Matekane, who was a reputable businessman and the country’s richest man before winning election in 2022, said Lesotho was interested in any economic relationship and investment that is mutually beneficial.
Matekane said African countries must derive benefits from their natural resources rather than relying on imported finished products.
“Africa has been home to a number of minerals and natural resources, but we always export everything we have. They get value outside and come back more expensive for us. So, it is very important for us to start these engagements to ensure that there is intra-trade between African countries,” he said.
He stated that Lesotho was targeting 100 per cent renewable energy and export to the Southern African region, leveraging its mountains, gorges and snowfall.
“We generate power using hydro because our terrain is a masterpiece. We experience eight to 12 times of snowfall in Lesotho, which is the highest source of water in the Southern African region,” he said.
He also spoke about the possibility of setting up data centres for digitised businesses, taking advantage of Lesotho’s cool temperatures and abundant water supply, and said Lesotho depends on Nigeria’s expertise in the oil industry.
After the meeting, Governor Diri participated in the Diamond Independence Jubilee celebrations at the National Stadium in Maseru, which was attended by the King of Lesotho, His Majesty King David Mohato Bereng Seeiso, Letsie III, the King of Eswatini and his wife, representatives of Botswana and Zambia, as well as heads of diplomatic missions.
