By Muslimat Itopa
Kogi State Government is to access Over One Hundred and Eighty Billion Naira Grant from Development and Natural Resources Fund to revamp and reposition the state’s economy.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo made this known when a group from the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission paid him a visit at the Government House Lokoja
Governor Ododo said his administration is not living any stone unturned to reposition the economy of the state to reduce the economic hardship occasioned by the subsidy removal.
Governor Ododo in a message to the visit through the Secretary to the Government of the state Mrs Folashade Ayoade noted that the state is blessed with abundant mineral resources that need to be harnessed for the betterment of the people.
Ododo said his administration will not relent in consolidating and building on the achievement of the former Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello hence the recovering of tractors and recruitment of more hunters and vigilante groups to compliment the efforts of the conventional security agents to combat crimes in the state.
He added that Kogi state is already collaborating with the world bank on L PRESS to develop livestock in the state and appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Livestock.
” The Agriculture we are looking out for in Kogi State is the type that will feed our citizens, we want to trade to other states.’
“We will feed Nigeria knowing fully that we are at the center of Nigeria, that is our target and of cause we have it all spelt out in the thirty two years master development plan of Kogi State.”
The leader of the delegation and Former Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Ademu Shettima Barau said the purpose of the visit is to make a presentation to Revenue Allocation Mobilization and Fiscal Commission on behalf of Kogi State and the submission of feasibility report recommendation to access grant of Natural resources Fund of Over One hundred and Eighty Billion Naira shared hope and property for Kogi State.
” The Commission is happy and in support of the governor’s request of #182.7b, grant , to revamp and reposition the state economy towards a sustainable and diversify economy that suits to achieve sustainable economic growth using it’s rish solid mineral resources, Agriculture and Tourism Inline with the diversification drive of the Nigeria economy to move away from over dependent on oil”
In his presentation, the Consultant Wale Bojude said the presentation is Inline with growing the economy of the state in three key sectors which includes Agriculture, Tourism and the solid Mineral.
He noted that when fully harnessed it has the potential of generating Five thousand direct employment and three thousand indirect employment for the state.
