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Kogi State Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Idris has restated the commitment of the state government to boost the economy of the State through diversification
The commissioner disclosed this at an interactive session with the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission in lokoja
Hon Idris who said the team were in the state for assessment, a study tour of economic diversification projects and program said the purpose of their visit is in line with the present administration strategy
He said the state government in 2016, came up with a policy on ways of improving the state internally generated revenue (IGR) by granting it autonomous
This he said has helped increased the state revenue from three hundred and fifty million monthly to about an average of one billion.
He further said that, as of Dec 2020, the state’s internally generated revenue was 17.3billion which if compared to other north-central states is not doing badly but there is room for improvement where can figures can be increased to two or three billion.
The commissioner who said the blocking of leakages, granting of autonomy, harmonization of the tax law were parts of steps taken by the state government to improve on the revenue said all these efforts were equally geared towards improving the agricultural sector.
Hon. Idris maintained that food sufficiency, increase in IGR as well as revenue generation is paramount to the state government.
He said the farmer’s/herders’ clashes in the south were also part of the challenges frustrating the efforts of achieving food sustainability in the country.
While appealing to the Federal government for support to enable the state to diversify its economy, the commissioner said 10,000 hectares of land has been made available for ranching, and to this end, documents have been submitted to the federal government to show comments .
According to the commissioner, the Kogi State livestock development plan was set up and the steering committee is headed by His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello with other technical working group as well as coordinators for the state.
The livestock development plan is aimed at achieving a modernized way of practicing ranching in the state
While calling on the Federal government to support the state with funds to enable it to realize its full potential in diversifying its economy, Hon. Idris said if the federal government must achieve its aim of diversifying the economy, it has to start from the states
Speaking further on the issue of solid minerals he maintained that Kogi is blessed with abundant resources amounting to about 29 solid minerals in the state.
He said for the state to get proper exploration, mining, and marketing of these minerals, the state needs funding from the federal government as well as partnering with the private sector to be able to achieve it.
Speaking on the Ajaojuta steel industry, the commissioner said the needed resources for the solid mineral are available in the state and called on the Federal government to show more commitment to the project by supporting the state.
He said in 2019, His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello informed the Federal Ministry of Agric and Finance of his interest to established a stable crop processing zone in Kogi, and with so much effort, 100 million dollars was approved for the same purpose.
While calling on the team from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to showcase the potentials of Kogi state in its final report, Hon. Idris said Africa can develop if only we convert our raw materials to finished ones.
In his response, the team lead of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr. Ntufam- Eyo Nsa Whiley commended the efforts of the Governor in boosting the state IGR and for working tirelessly to ensure that the state is safe for the people and investors.
He said the meeting has become important because depending on oil alone can no longer sustain the economy and as such gas and hydrocarbon is the new sources of revenue.
The team lead also noted that Kogi is rich in hydrocarbon and has it in excess quantity.
He promised to work closelyg with the state to see how it can help the state harness its potentials to improve and make the IGR effective.
He assured the commissioner that the assessment report carried out on the state will be presented at the federal level
He however advised the state government to intensify its efforts in ensuring that the Federal government supports the state in achieving its diversification plan.
In his vote of thanks, the Director of the International department, Mallam Sani Haruna, thanked His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello for providing the platform and also thanked the Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Idris for providing good leadership and for his depth of knowledge about the state.
While wishing the Commissioner and his team a safe trip back to their destinations, Mallam Haruna said he is optimistic that issues raised on how to explore avenues of diversifying the state economy will be properly looked into
Princess Funsho Sumanu
Public Relations Officer
