The Kogi State government at the weekend, wooed investors with special targets on investors with agricultural potential and incentives in order to take advantage of the untapped resources deposited in the state.
The State is the largest producer of Cassava, although yet to add value in the industrial usage of Cassava,such as Cassava flour and Cassava Chippy.
Governor Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State made this known at the Agricultural Summit in conjunction with Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC,over the weekend which was held in Abuja, where he said in his address that the private sector should join hands with his government for the transformation and modernisation of the agricultural sector, because government alone cannot do it but will provide the enabling environment, while the private sector becomes the engine of growth.
Bello who was represented by the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Kolawole Mathew, also highlighted major achievements in the state’s agricultural sector, which include N1 billion investment on production of cassava, rice, cashew and other staple crops across 21 local government areas of the state, purchase agricultural machinery and equipment, massive investment on land clearing, investment in rural network of roads to assist in evacuation of agricultural produce, and others.
He also said his government has provided the enabling environment to harness the enormous agricultural endowment with mouth-watering incentives, which await genuine investors to key into.
He said: “My administration has called for this dinner to engage with the private sector of our economy to drive the whole value chain of agricultural sector of Kogi State economy. Specifically, Kogi State is seeking from your organization collaboration in the following areas: Processing.
“In fact, in Kogi state, there is no processing of any significant level. Off-taker of market; hence, whatever we do to provide market for our finished products will go a long way. Backward Integration; this leads to efficiency in sourcing and economic viability as a reduction in cost of importation.
Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director, GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, disclosed during his goodwill message that the corporation will soon begin 65 million litres ethanol production in Kogi State after discussions on that would be completed with the State government.
Baru who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer, Ventures, in the corporation, Babatunde Adeniran, said the project will provide 1 million jobs in the state.
“NNPC has been discussing with Kogi State Government in the area of partnership as regards to bio-fuel production. This is a programme its discussion is ongoing and is going quiet rapidly which we intend to off-load as soon as possible.
“One of the areas we are looking at in the bio-fuel production is the cassava plantation. Our people are going to Kogi State to inspect the areas in Alape. We intend and at the end of the day to have at least a minimum of 15, 000 hectares which will give 400, 000 tonnes of cassava per annum and by which we are going to have ethanol production of 65 million litres, animal feed of 31.5000 tonnes, and electricity generation of 15 megawatts.
“So these are the things that will metamorphose into employment generation for our youths. We are looking at when it gets fully developed we are looking at 1 million jobs in the state”, he said.
Also speaking was the Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Oloruntoba Kehide, said investors should take advantage of the youth population and vast arable land for investment following the governor’s political will to meet their needs. He added that the issue of security has been taken care of and they target N23bn from agriculture in the State’s 2018 budget.
In his remarks, the Commission for Finance and Economic Development, Asiwaju Idris, disclosed that the State government targets $350 million investment from investors in 2018, which will be in agriculture and solid minerals sectors, and expressed optimism that Ajaokuta Steel Company will also generate revenue for the state.
