The Dutch African Agricultural Projects, a Netherlands Firm has finalised plans to invest N144billion ($400million) in various agro-allied projects in Kogi state.
Bert DeJong, coordinator of the project disclosed this to Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi State that the team from the Dutch African Agricultural Projects were in the state to invest about $400, 000 in dairy ranch programme, milk production, onions, sesame seed and rice production among other Agric projects in the state.
He said that the team would place utmost priority on the needs of host communities, adding that 30 percent of returns from the project will be invested into social project that would add value to the lives of the people in the host communities.
DeJong also noted that 60 percent of the agricultural products produced in Nigeria waste away as a result of lack of adequate storage facilities, saying that the firm will be investing in storage facilities to address the issue of food wastages
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He also explained that the project has the capacity to create 12,000 direct jobs for the people of Kogi state and another 25,000 to 30,000 indirect jobs for other Nigerians.
Also speaking, Governor Yahaya Bello told the Netherlands team that its vision in the area of agricultural investment is in line with the state agricultural revolution, adding that the project was a welcome development and that his administration will support the team in all ramifications to make the project a reality.
The governor assured the team that Kogi state is safe for investments of all sorts, as insecurity is no longer an issue of concern in the state.
“My administration’s core value is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda. He has vowed to revive agriculture and others; he is doing well and Kogi State government is following in that direction,” Bello said.
He equally noted that his government also in line with the President’s efforts in the area of job creation and diversification of the economy, adding that since the project can create thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities in the state the Kogi state government will give its full support.
Governor Bello also commend the team for putting the state in the first phase of the project execution, noting that the state is blessed with human and fertile arable land that could yield huge returns for the investors.
Smart Adeyemi, former senator of Kogi West constituency in his remarks, said Governor Bello’s zeal and determination to transform the socio-economic development of the state is the reason he took the decision to encourage the team to come invest in the state, adding the last economic summit held by the state government was an eye opener which he said had exposed the potentials of Kogi to the outside world, as he hinted that the team will kick start the first phase of the project in few weeks’ time.
Adeyemi assured the team that Kogi state is one of the safest states to invest in Nigeria, adding that the governor’s passion for rapidly transformation of the economic fortune of the state and improving the wellbeing of the people deserves the support of all and sundry to make it a reality.
