From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Governor Yahaya Bello
A United States-based billion dollar company, SIVAD group, has hinted Governor Yahaya Bello on its plans to establish a world class pharmaceutical, agricultural and other allied industries in the confluence state.
The arrangement which has reached advanced stage is to commence operation in couple of weeks.
The group’s President/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lenzie Davis gave the hint when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Yahaya Bello at the Government House, Lokoja over the weekend.
He told Governor Bello that the incorporation of Kogi State into the company’s investment plan was as a result of its strategic location, security architecture and other factors
He noted that the company was in Africa some 30 years back and expressed optimism that this period would be different owned to the energy, relationships and what he has been told about the governor’s leadership acumen.
He said: “We are here to understudy how we could really help Kogi State and by extension Nigeria develop its health, agriculture, technology sectors and as far as with developing vaccines, other type of medicine.”
Mr Davis added that the company also has a sickle cell rapid test which he believed would be able to help monitor some of the sickle cell patients, help save lives, offer more education on how to prevent the disease
He added that asides from its plan in the pharmaceuticals industry, SIVAD in the areas of agriculture would help develop new technologies for growing food, which could make Nigeria the leader in shipping food and other products throughout Africa.
“The goal is to work closely with some of the key people here, so as to put together a solid plan of execution based on some of our findings and which of our plans to prioritize,” he added.
The governor in his remarks noted that Kogi state was on the part of development as it continued to witness business interests from internationals stressing that his administration met the state in shambles and had made conspicuous effort to reverse the trend.
He pointed out that Nigeria remained the trigger point for Africa and Kogi state sits confidently in the centre of the nation’s geography hence the state was where things must happen before reflecting in other part of the country.
The governor noted that the state was opened to any investor while he admonished them to feel at home as many of the state officials were on ground to guide them on modes of operation. He added that the government would ensure that their personnel, investments and every other things were adequately secured.
He promised to give them the necessary cooperation, to ensure that they invested safely in a bid to further encourage other investors into the state adding that his government was doing its best in the health, education, agriculture by putting in place the needed infrastructures.
Governor Bello advised that despite their interest in profit-making, they should ensure that they give their host communities a sense of ownership, adding that they would be a nexus between the state government and the united state business community.
