A frontline advocacy group in Kogi state, Okun Economic Forum (OEF), has expressed concern over ‘no-progress’ state of the Staple Crop Processing Zone in Alape, Kogi state.
This was contained in a communique signed by the publicity secretary of the Forum, Pastor Emmanuel Obadunmi, after her meeting in Kabba.
According to the Forum, the Staple Crop Processing Zone project in Alape Area of Kabba-Bunu LGA which was initiated by the World Bank in conjunction with the Federal Government appeared stalled. They resolved that the Forum will interact with the stakeholders on the project with a view to removing whatever the bottlenecks are, so that its full implementation would then commence in earnest.
The Forum believe that the Staple Crop Processing Zone project, when fully executed, is capable of transforming the socioeconomic life of the people of the area and the state generally.
The Forum applauded the decision of Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello to construct Ife-Olukotun – Ekinrin-Adde road and rehabilitate the Iyamoye-Igbagun-Ife-Olukotun-Ponyan-Jege-Ejuku-Ijowa road that was constructed by the state government between 2004 and 2010. They urged members to monitor progress on the construction of the roads as a way of assisting the State Government to ensure that the road projects were executed as specified in the contract terms.
The Okun group also lamented that Omi Dam situated in Ejiba in Yagba West LGA of the state has being grossly underutilized by Nigerians living in the immediate environment despite the fact that thousands of able-bodied and educated youths are roaming around looking for employment.
The meeting had in attendance Chief Jibril Yusuf, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, Mr. Charles Kolawole , Mrs. Olufenka, Pastor Emmanuel Obadunmi, Chief Femi Ajisafe, Mr. Oluwasegun Otitoju and Mr. Olu Agbaje–Williams.
