From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Gov Bello
The proposed Kogi Staple Crops Zone and Agricultural Modernization Project is set to position Kogi State and indeed Nigeria as the food corridor of Africa and an industrial hub.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Kingsley Fanwo Stated this during an interview with newsmen in Lokoja, Thursday, saying the decision of the state to move the deal to the African Development Bank from the World Bank was in the best economic interest of the State.
“We thank the leadership and members of the National Assembly for their show of patriotism in approving a project that will redefine our future as a nation.
“The Kogi State Staple Crops Processing Zone and Agricultural Modernization Project is aimed at making the state the food corridor of Africa and to also to also make the nation’s biofuel plan a reality”.
Fanwo said the report in certain quarters of the press that the request was “expunged” is “not only untrue, but also a case of poor reportage”.
“Since the State will no more be taking the facility from the World Bank, it was only normal that it is removed from the World Bank list and added to that of the AfDB”, he said.
He hailed the “gallant show of the Kogi spirit by legislators from the state who showed how to legislate for growth and development”, saying the floor of the National Assembly has become a place where “true lovers of Kogi people are now legislating for our growth and progress. We give special commendation to Sen. Smart Adeyemi for rising to the occasion to lead his Distinguished and Honorable colleagues to speak in defence of the economic interest of the good people of Kogi”.
It will be recalled that the Kogi State Government had requested for a loan of $100m to establish a food processing zone and to modernize her agricultural processes. The request has been approved by the National Assembly.
The project is expected to create over tqo million direct and indirect jobs.
