Recent statistics has shown that the citizens of Kogi state are one of the most impoverished amongst states in the north central. On this note, we shall take time to analyse and review some key reasons why there has been widespread of poverty across the state despite being one of the most richly endowed states in the entire country.
Natural Resources
Let us begin with the poor use of resources in the last decade. Kogi state has over 40 million tons of coal buried in the state, this deposit can power the whole of Nigeria daily for at least 10 years. Kogi has over 70 million tons of copper and steel, this means that the state can provide steel for the whole of West Africa. With these two alone, the state should be able to maintain the strongest economy through a robust influx of foreign direct investment that will enhance our internally generated revenue (IGR), if we add crude oil deposit at Ibaji and other resources scattered across the state.
If these resources have been adequately harnessed over the years, Kogi state should be able to compete with other states like Lagos and Kano in terms of development and patronage from local and foreign investors.
Agriculture
Another key sector that has been poorly attended to in the last decade is Agriculture. In a state where over 60% of its natives are farmers, and where the two largest rivers in the country has its confluence with its road serving as a gate way to all the corners of the nation, then it is pertinent to wonder the failure in Agriculture. We will have the following questions for review…
First, what is the state policy on Agriculture? in the last 15 years there has never been a state policy on Agriculture. In other words, the state has never had a cogent plan for its Agro sector, rather the sector has been operating randomly and at the mercy of the farmers.
Secondly, imagine if the state begins with an Agro-design that can accommodate farming in all sense. This means Agricultural trainings will be provided for all the farmers in the state, the use of technology will be implemented, Agro research centres will be built in the state and Agro – business centres where the export and import of farm products will be controlled and managed in the state. Through this, fertilizer and livestock feed will reach even the peasant as at when due, pesticides and other related Agro matters will be attended to, sales of cash crops like cashew nut and palm oil will be regulated and sustained – aside the fact that this will boost the state’s economy, it will go a longer way to create more jobs and provide food for Kogi State citizens.
Alas, all these have been neglected and today we have a state that pays hundreds of millions for fertilizer and yet only 30 – 40 bags are actually distributed. We have a state that has the best lands and weather for livestock farming and yet we still import ice fish from neighbouring states and the federal capital.
Small Scale Businesses/Entrepreneur
Lagos state, for example, has over 150 million small scale businesses that remits over 3.5 billion naira annually to the state as tax. Kano has over 200 million small scale businesses that remits over 4.9 billion naira to the state as tax – imagine if such tax are generated for ten years?
In Kogi state, we have approximately 200 small scale businesses and in the last two years over 20% of these small scale business has folded up with 50% doing very poorly. How then can they contribute to the IGR of the state in terms of tax?
In the last 8 years, nothing has been done about small scale businesses, which is the hub of revenue in every nation; no skill acquisition training programmes, no empowerment on that note and no single plan for this rich sector. If 100 persons are trained and also empowered to begin their small business in the state, it means over a 100 family will be fed, what if each of these trained persons also train two more persons? then we are looking at over 300 families and if they are to pay a tax of 1000 monthly – that should be 300,0000 calculate this for a year and then for ten years – what ever you arrive at is what Kogi state is loosing every 10 years.
Transportation
According to recent findings, over 8600 cars pass through Kogi state every single day, with over 10,000 persons conveyed in these cars and goods worth 25 billion naira. The questions therefore is how much does Kogi state government and Kogi state citizens make out of this billions passing through our state every week and every year? The answer is actually nothing. Yet, in the last eight years, the state has been watching the flux of billions passing and not put up any strategy to streamline it towards contributing to the IGR of the state. Imagine if the state has a national transport situated in Lokoja, with strong online booking and payment structure – I am not talking about the confluence buses that are not up to ten even when it has been documented that 100 buses were budgeted and paid for. With such a national and local transport service in the state, Kogi state will be able to generate at least 25% of what Uber makes in Nigeria annually which should be over 2 billion naira, and in no longer time the state will set up it’s own mini airport from money generated from this road transport – Abia lines makes over 5 million naira every week, Ebonyi line and even Benue links makes up to that amount – these are states that are not as strategic as Kogi state and Lokoja to this nation, so why is the state not still generating revenue from this sector in the last 8 years.
Your guess is as right as mine.
There is a high need to begin to seek for a leadership than can liberate the state from these failure and loopholes, save the people from this unnecessary hardship and proffer necessary solutions to these lingering menace.
At a time like this we are in a need of a government that can get to work and approach all these constantly ignored sector and ensure that they are harnessed and used in a way it could contribute more to the revenue generated in the state and in return improve development in the state.
We must be willing to give those who have all the needed skills and exposure the support and vote they need to get into office and redirect the state towards a more productive angle.
Kogites, vote wisely.
– Mawedo Nicodemus
For: Dr. Victor Alewo Adoji Media Team.
