Determined to rewrite Kogi’s State’s sad story of neglect and under development, Governor Idris Wada, on assumption of office in January, 2012, adopted four cardinal development priorities as a platform for achieving the transformation agenda objectives of his administration.
This priorities were geared towards improving Education, Agriculture, Health and Social Infrastructure and human capital development.
The Governor began by raising a think-thank comprising illustrious sons and daughters of the state, to prepare a development blueprint, which was to serve like the road map for his government.
While it has been tough adhering to the spirit and letters of the blueprint in the face of fresh challenges, such as dwindling resources and demands, it is however safe to submit that the administration is not too far away from the blueprint.
This assertion was arrived at having observed the remarkable progress made in repositioning the state’s economy and infrastructures by the Wada led administration.
Undaunted by the several months of election related litigation, challenging the authenticity of his election and the initial evil flood and insecurity challenges the administration faced, Wada traversed Nigeria and foreign countries, while his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi ran errands on the domestic scene. This style of governance then had brought the governor under criticisms from the opposition who labeled him an absentee governor.
However, an appraisal of Capt Wada’s administration in the saddle as well as a look into the political future, shows that there are sufficient signals to suggest that Wada had made haste slowly as the seeds of the benefits of his silent trips overseas and outside the shores of the State have germinated. Kogi has been made a bride for investors,while it has also witness an unprecedented improvement in the growth of its infrastructure.
Aside the completion of inherited projects,the present administration began and has completed several other projects that has direct bearing on the lives of the people.
The State like never before according to observers is on a threshold of a new beginning. Putting behind it the past of under development and putting on the new garb of a fast growing economy through a massive turn around of its infrastructures.
Indeed, Kogi has in a short spate of time undergone an agricultural and industrial transformation, made possible through the influx of foreign investors to stimulate the state’s economy, as a result of which, Kogi now plays the role of a catalyst, culminating into the signing of about 20 memoranda of understanding running into several billions of naira.
This feat for many is unprecedented, has made the Wada led administration not a disappointment,but has put the PDP, a party under whose platform the Wada/Awoniyi emerged at an advantage ahead the 2015 general elections.
The attraction of foreign partners into the state’s economy is anchored on the political will of Capt Wada and the creation of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
Presently,a consortium of investors from Saudi Arabia, including the Alkatani Group, a Saudi family business with 73 years experiences in oil and gas, steel plant development and pipeline, led by its Vice Chairman, Sheik Salla Alkatani, in attestation, said it was lured into investing in Kogi because of the confidence they had in the leadership. Meanwhile, the partnerships will come with mutual benefits.
In the words of Capt Wada to ETA, a team of investors from Dubai, UAE: “You get returns for your investments while Kogi people get their benefits through job creation and economic development”.
In addition to creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths, there is the backward integration advantage accruing to the communities where the projects are located and the state as a whole.
A proportion of the profit is also earned by the state thereby enhancing its revenue generation profile.
Presently, with an internally generated revenue that has risen to N500,000 million from an inherited N150million on assumption, the State’s IGR is likely to hit N1 billion by June 2014.
The nature of partnerships entered into by the state,has also ensured a dual advantage of having direct and Indirect employment created on a massive scale while the lean funds accrued to the State from the federation account are channeled for other developmental purposes.
In all of the MoUs the state has signed, its equity shares have been to capitalize its land and its content through a “use it or loose it basis,” which allows the state to be allotted some percentage of equity.
Aside incentives as Tax Holidays, Access to land with necessary titles, the state also facilitates exploration of minerals through the necessary federal agencies serves as support to investors.
Also the creation of an Investment Promotion Desk by the state government ,a one stop shop for information and detailed discussions, has served as an investment maternity ward for the safe delivery of investment projects in the state.
Towards ensuring the development of the state’s agriculture and industrial sector,the Wada led administration, has entered into understanding with willing entities, to form Joint Ventures and later as Build, Operate and Transfer with an enabling legislation to allow for Public Private Partnership already in its final stage.
The specific content of the partnership entered into by the state with Ostertrade Engineering and Manufacturing as well as with DPP International APS, include: a Joint Venture MoU for farming of up to 6000 hectares of Cassava and processing it into native and modified cassava starch . The project has an equity investment of 650 million US Dollars to be realized within 18 months by all parties. The project also has a high net worth with a return on investment of 27 per cent and a pay back period of less than four years. It is also capable of generating thousands of employment in the area of its location.
Similarly, the partnership with Espera Global Limited in commercial Agricultural and Agro Industrial investments, which would operate on a Project Model called Strategic Fast Tract Agricultural Development System, seeks to invest up to 650 million US Dollars on 25,000 hectares of land.
Aside the backward integration advantage to the state, the state also enjoys 15 percent share of the project while employment would be created in Agriculture Infrastructure and Social Services.
The MoU entered into with Chelsea Group Limited, is for the establishment of Agriculture and Ethanol Plant and other associated Industries in Ilama Community in Dekina Local Government Area. The project is a 300 million US Dollars investment. The equity structure of 85 percent and 15 percent for cassava development for the partner and state government respectively, will occupy a land mass of 10,000 hectares.
The MoU with Favic Constructions Company seeks to exploit the immense location of economic advantage of Kogi State as a transportation hub. On the average, vehicles from 22 States pass through the Capital daily.
A Mechanic and Spare Part Market in Lokoja, sited on a minimum of 10 hectares of land is at the take off stage.
The facility which will have an international hotel, car park that will take at least 200 Vehicles, a Bank, Open Court Restaurants, and Rest Rooms is structured on the basis of 75 percent and 25 percent for the investor and the state, respectively.
Towards providing mass housing scheme, the state entered into a partnership with Light House Financial Services Limited to build 1500 houses of various categories for it citizens. The scheme would be located majorly in Lokoja while other urban towns would be prosecuted in phases.
The importance of power in driving socio-economic development in any society, made the state sign an MoU with Good Earth Power Nig. Ltd and Astra Coal Nig. Ltd. The companies aside investing in housing, agriculture, infrastructure and power plants, would utilize the abundant coal deposits to generate the much needed electricity for the Country.
Astra Agriculture Resources Ltd, intends to establish a rice farm and mill at Ibaji. Infrastructures such as health centres, schools, roads, water and electricity would be provided by the investor as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Through the Kogi Investment and Properties Limited, a joint agreement with Kiabo Engineering Group Holding Limited of Hong Kong to Design, Construct and Operate an eleven story hotel and offices to be known as Kogi House is yet another brilliant initiative of the Capt Wada administration. The project is located in the central business area of Abuja, would see the State enjoy 80 per cent equity participation in the joint venture which spans a period of 30 years.
With the future of the nation said to depend on agricultural promotion, the state massive investment in agriculture especially in Sugar through the establishment of a 50 hectares cane sugar seed nursery, is believed to be geared towards enabling the planting of 1000 hectare of sugar cane in about a year, an investment anchored by BUA Sugar, Dangote Sugar and Unikem Sugar companies. The trio, planning to set up sugar plantation and refining facilities in the state, it is hoped, would help form the bulwark for the realization of the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP).
Without mincing words,the friendly environment created by the Capt Idris Wada administration, the state’s abundant potentials in agriculture, mining, tourism, human capital development as well as its strategic location is making it to presently undergo an agricultural and industrial revolution.
The achievements and successes the governor has made in boosting the economy of the state few years after in office, has made the call for the governor to seek another term in office loud and keeps reverberating across the State.
This call as viewed by political analyst is another strong indication that the people are not disappointed by the governor’s performance. Hassan Salau,State Chairman of the PDP has consistently been leading a pack of other notable and well meaning indigenes of the state, at every forum to drum it loud and clear that the present administration in the state has not been a disappointment, rather it is seen to have justified the overwhelming mandate given to it by the people.
Therefore the consensus of opinion calling for Wada’s continuity to consolidate on the gains it has achieved in the state, points to the fact that the people given another opportunity will vote the governor again for a second time mandate when he indicates his interest to run.
This majority believe is to enable the governor complete the good works began by his administration.
For many in Kogi State,if Capt Wada has placed the state on a strong economic pedestal,and he is laying a solid foundation for the take off of the state’s Agriculture and industrialization revolution,then it only behooves on the people, that beyond 2016,what should occupy their minds is continuity and consolidating on the gains achieved by the present people oriented administration in the state.
*Mike Abu is Chief Press Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, Lokoja
