By joshua KOGI FIRST: ODODO DIRECTS MDAs TO PATRONISE CONFLUENCELUBE PRODUCTS, REINFORCES TINUBU’S NIGERIA FIRST INDUSTRIAL POLICY
Governor Announces Three-Year Tax Relief for Businesses as Kogi Strengthens Local Manufacturing and Job Creation
LOKOJA, KOGI STATE | OCTOBER 11, 2026
In a significant boost for indigenous enterprise, local manufacturing and industrial development, the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state government to patronise products manufactured by Confluencelube Oil for government vehicles.
The directive complements the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy, championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to prioritise Nigerian-made goods and services in public procurement, strengthen domestic industries and stimulate employment through increased patronage of local manufacturers.
Governor Ododo also announced a three-year waiver on selected state government levies for businesses as part of efforts to attract investors, encourage industrial expansion and strengthen Kogi State’s productive economy.
He made these announcements on Sunday, October 11, 2026, while commissioning the Confluencelube Oil Blending and Packaging Factory, owned by GODEC Power Nigeria Limited, along the Ganaja–Ajaokuta Expressway in Kogi State. The facility was established under the leadership of the company’s Chairman and Managing Director, Chief Okechukwu Obika.
The Governor’s directive on Confluencelube products reflects his administration’s Kogi First philosophy of supporting indigenous businesses, promoting local manufacturing, creating employment opportunities and ensuring that more economic value remains within the state.
It also demonstrates how state-level industrial initiatives can complement the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen domestic production and reduce unnecessary dependence on imported goods.
TINUBU’S NIGERIA FIRST POLICY AND ODODO’S KOGI FIRST INITIATIVE
The Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy seeks to ensure that public procurement contributes more directly to domestic production, industrial growth and employment generation.
Under the Federal Government’s automotive procurement framework, MDAs are required to prioritise eligible vehicles assembled in Nigeria, subject to the applicable procurement guidelines and authorised exceptions.
The policy is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s automotive assembly industry, encourage investment, develop local supply chains and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.
In a complementary development, Governor Ododo has directed Kogi State MDAs to patronise Confluencelube products for government vehicles, thereby supporting a manufacturing enterprise operating within the state.
Although the federal automotive policy and the Kogi State lubricant-patronage directive concern different product categories, both reflect the broader objective of using public procurement to support domestic productive capacity.
The Kogi initiative is particularly significant because government patronage can provide a more dependable market for eligible local manufacturers, helping them plan production, sustain employment and invest in expansion.
The state directive, however, remains subject to applicable procurement laws, product-quality standards, technical requirements and value-for-money considerations.
THREE-YEAR TAX RELIEF TO BOOST INVESTMENT
Governor Ododo announced a three-year waiver on selected state government levies, including Land Use Charge, Environmental Levy, Business Premises Annual Renewal, Fire Service Levy and Economic Development Levy.
The initiative is intended to reduce the financial burden on the factory, encourage the new investments and support the enterprise to expand their operations.
The Governor commended President Tinubu for promoting an enabling environment for industrialisation and private-sector investment, expressing optimism that Nigeria was gradually regaining its economic strength.
He described the Confluencelube factory as an important contribution to Kogi State’s industrialisation drive, job creation and economic growth.
According to him, Kogi possesses the strategic location, natural resources and human capacity required to become a major industrial hub in Nigeria.
Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting investors who establish productive ventures, process raw materials locally and create employment opportunities for residents.
He also emphasised the importance of building a vibrant private sector capable of generating employment and complementing the public sector in driving economic development.
GODEC POWER: FROM ELECTRICITY TRADING TO INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING
Earlier, Chief Okechukwu Obika, Chairman and Managing Director of GODEC Power Nigeria Limited and Vice President of the Igbo Community in Kogi State, expressed profound gratitude to Governor Ododo for personally commissioning the factory.
Obika described the Governor’s presence as a demonstration of confidence in indigenous enterprise, noting that the visit had elevated the company’s profile and strengthened its confidence as an investor in Kogi State.
He particularly appreciated the Governor’s announcement of tax relief, commitment to supporting local businesses and directive encouraging government patronage of Confluencelube products.
According to him, these initiatives would strengthen the company’s operations, facilitate expansion, create more employment opportunities and increase its contribution to the economic development of Kogi State.
Obika also commended the Governor’s inclusive leadership and warm disposition towards Ndi Igbo and other communities in Kogi State, assuring him of the company’s continued commitment to peace, unity and prosperity.
He explained that GODEC Power Nigeria Limited, established in 2001 as an electricity trading business, had diversified into several sectors, including cargo tricycle assembly and distribution, lubricant production, plastic recycling, plastic container manufacturing, industrial tools and agricultural processing equipment.
The Confluencelube facility manufactures engine oils for petrol and diesel engines, transmission oils and plastic containers. Plans are also underway to introduce hydraulic oil, brake fluid, transformer oil and grease.
According to Obika, the company has created approximately 100 direct jobs and more than 200 indirect employment opportunities.
He added that expansion to full operational capacity could increase employment to more than 300 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect jobs.
The planned expansion is expected to strengthen local manufacturing, deepen industrial activity and increase the company’s contribution to economic growth in Kogi State.
INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Governor commended the company’s management for investing in manufacturing and value addition, emphasising that his administration welcomes investors willing to establish industries that create lasting economic benefits for residents.
He assured investors of continued government support, reaffirming his determination to position Kogi State as an attractive destination for productive investment.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Muhammed Muktar Shuaibu, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with investors and communities to promote economic development.
He stressed the importance of cooperation, inclusion and collective responsibility in advancing the state’s prosperity.
A STRONGER LINK BETWEEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND LOCAL INDUSTRIALISATION
The commissioning of the Confluencelube Oil Blending and Packaging Factory represents another development in Kogi State’s drive towards industrialisation, indigenous enterprise development and economic diversification.
By encouraging government institutions to patronise products manufactured within the state, Governor Ododo is pursuing a local-content approach that complements the Federal Government’s wider objective of promoting Nigerian-made goods.
The combination of government patronage, tax incentives and private-sector investment could help local manufacturers expand production, improve their competitiveness and create additional employment opportunities.
The long-term benefits will depend on consistent implementation, product quality, competitive pricing, compliance with procurement regulations and the capacity of local industries to meet government demand.
For Kogi State, the message is clear: industrial development requires more than establishing factories. It also requires an enabling business environment, reliable demand for locally manufactured products and sustained investment in productive enterprises.
The development reinforces the central message of the Kogi First philosophy: supporting indigenous businesses, encouraging productive investment and ensuring that economic opportunities translate into tangible benefits for the people.
KOGI FIRST. NIGERIA FIRST. BUY LOCAL. BUILD INDUSTRY. CREATE JOBS.