Ahmed Usman Ododo, Governor of Kogi State has said the state government is to set up Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) as initiated by the combined team of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the State Government.
This was made known in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Ismaila Isah on Friday.
The statement noted that Governor Ododo expressed this development plan when he hosted a delegation from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The statement further stated that the project is expected to attract significant foreign and domestic private sector investment into the State, adding that the state government has already allocated 254 hectares of land in Ukpake, Ajaokuta local government area.
According to the spokesperson, Governor Ododo said the decision to establish the agro-industrial processing zone in the area was informed by its strategic location and proximity to water supply, electricity, gas, a railway line linking Kogi and a number of states and the proposed international cargo airport in Adogo which is a few kilometers from the proposed site of the agro-industrial facility.
The governor commended the African Development Bank for the initiative which he said would enhance job creation and guarantee food security in Kogi state and Nigeria at large, the statement added.