As part of our Make Nigeria Better series, let us look at the economic potential of Kogi State and see how it could become one of Nigeria’s cash cows

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Kogi is one of the least developed states in Nigeria in terms of infrastructure. It lacks basic roads, rural areas are inaccessible during the rainy season and it struggles to attract private sector employers

[2] Despite being home to the historic confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue, Kogi State is shamelessly more or less wholly dependent on federal allocation handouts for its survival

[3] If you gave Kogi state to a visionary like Obafemi Awolowo to run, he would easily come up with a budget to match the federal government’s one of $30bn

[4] Let me remind you all that in 1959, the federal government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa unveiled a budget of £50m but the Western Region government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo came up with a budget of £55m. Why was this possible? Because the Western Region had several revenue earners like WNTV, Liberty Stadium, Airport Hotel Ikeja, Cocoa House, etc that brought in cash for the government

[5] I am sure Kogians weep when they see how the unique status of their state is wasted. Being at the confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue, Kogi State should be the hydro-electric capital of West Africa, the region’s biggest tourist attraction and the gateway between northern and southern Nigeria with the best road network on the entire African continent

[6] Anyone from Lokoja who has visited the Niagra Falls in Ontario, Canada, must surely be ashamed of their state. It has a similar topography but alas, Niagra Falls attracts $2.4bn in annual tourist revenue, has 2,800

tourism businesses and the sector employs 40,000 people who cater for 13m visitors a year

[7] As if that is not enough, the The Robert Moses Niagara Hydroelectric Power Station generates 2,675MW of power annually. Can someone please explain to me why Kogi State that is home to both Idah and Lokoja does not generate 5,000MW of power a year? Shame on you Kogians for not exercising initiative

[8] You Kogians are sitting on your backsides waiting in vain for the federal government to spoon feed you. For me, that is just people running away from their responsibilities

[9] When I look at Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Idah, I see cities that can easily generate $5bn each. Kogi State should easily raise $25bn a year in internally generated revenue if it was populated by industrious people but alas, we are simply not productive enough

[10] I take it all of you are aware of the limestone reserves in Obajana in Kogi State that attracted Dangote Industries. Why has Obajana not been turned into this major industrial hub with manufacturing facilities, factories, industrial estates, etc? All of Nigeria’a cement processing equipment should be manufactured in Kogi State