Industrialist Calls for higher investments in Kogi

A frontline industrialist in Kogi State, Dr Alex Ayodele John has called on investors around the world to explore the investment opportunities that abound in the state for the mutual benefit of the citizenry and the prospective investor.

In an exclusive chat with Vanguard in his Lokoja office recently, the industrialist said Kogi State is blessed with a good number of high worth miners resources that are waiting for exploration. “With the high deposit of limestone and iron ore in the state, massive investment is needed to change the socio-economic narrative of the state. Kogi is so blessed that we should not be associated with poverty. “Tourism and agriculture are the other non-mineral sectors that should be tapped into for maximum impact. With the location and geographical endowment of the state, Kogi can comfortably run its operations even with zero allocation from the federation account.

“The State Government has played its role by creating an enabling environment and offering various investment incentives to drive the economy of the state. What is needed now is for the investors to take advantage of the opportunities in the peaceful state to invest heavily in solid minerals, agriculture and tourism”. Dr. Ayodele called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, complete work on the Ajaokuta Steel Company, saying it is high time the government reviewed its bilateral agreements on the project. “It is unfortunate that government after government have continued to pay lip service to the Ajaokuta Steel project. No nation can move forward without taking advantage of its opportunities. I make bold to say the project is not just a blessing to Nigeria, but Africa as a whole if well managed”.

In a related development, the Chief Executive Officer of Delex Ventures launched a transport line in Lokoja recently. The company has been hailed by experts in the transportation industry as the new face of road transportation in Nigeria.