Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has said that the state government is ready to meet all requirements for the establishment of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in the state.
Governor Ododo, who hosted a delegation from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security that were in the state on an assessment tour of the proposed project sites, said that the state government has already allocated 254 hectares of land in Ukpake, AjaoKuta local government area for the purpose of the special agro-industrial processing zone.
He said that the decision to establish the agro-industrial processing zone in the area is due to its strategic location and its proximity to essential resources such as water, electricity, gas, railway line linking Kogi and a number of states and the proposed international cargo airport in Adogo which is a few kilometers from the proposed site of the agro-industrial facility.
Governor Ododo assured the delegation that the State government will do everything possible to provide the enabling environment for the project.
The governor stressed that the project is in line with his administration’s policy on industrialization aimed at guaranteeing food security through investment in agriculture.
He said that such investment in the agricultural value chain will increase productivity, provide access to market for farmers and provide job opportunities for the teeming population of the state.
The Governor commended the African Development Bank for the initiative which he said would enhance job creation and guarantee food security in Kogi state and Nigeria at large.
In his remarks, Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Gaya who led the AfDB delegation said that the assessment tour is intended to verify the readiness of states to be selected in the second phase for establishment of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Nigeria.
He said that project is being implemented in 18 countries accross Africa.
He said that the first phase in Nigeria, covering seven states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, has commenced.
He said that the team was in Kogi to assess the State’s readiness as a possible beneficiary in the second phase of the project.
In their separate remarks, the state commissioner for finance, budget and economic planning, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris gave assurance of the political will of the state government to see to the realisation of the project, even as his counterpart in the ministry of agriculture and food security, Timothy Ojomah said that the proposed agro-industrial processing facility will be supported by adequate and reliable supply of raw materials and semi-processed agricultural produce from the state Agricultural Transformation Centres in Alape, Anyigba and Osara.
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone is expected to process maize, cassava, rice, palm oil, cashew, sugarcane and fish, in line with the commitment of Governor Ododo to transforming Kogi State into an agro-industrial hub.
Special adviser to the governor on media and publicity, Ismaila Isah, in a statement today, June 28, said that the project is an initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Kogi State Government.
The project is expected to attract significant foreign and domestic private sector investment to the State.
