By Abdullahi Lukman
The Kogi State government has announced that it is in advanced discussions with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to secure a multi-billion-dollar project designed to significantly enhance food production and strengthen food security across the state.
This development was shared by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Timothy Ojomah, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, February 3 in Lokoja.
According to Ojomah, the state government is engaged in strategic negotiations to ensure the successful acquisition of the project, which is expected to have a widespread impact on agricultural productivity across all 21 local government areas in Kogi State.
“We are in talks with the President of AfDB, who has assured us of their support. We are confident that we will qualify for this project,” Ojomah stated.
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The commissioner elaborated on the importance of this project, highlighting that it will focus on improving the agricultural value chain in the state.
“The focus of this initiative is on the value chain because, in most of our agricultural activities, we must ensure that we maximize the entire value chain,” he said, believing, “If we don’t, we won’t realize significant gains.”
Ojomah also addressed the challenges faced by the state’s agricultural sector in 2024, particularly the adverse effects of drought.
Ojomah expressed optimism about the ongoing negotiations with the AfDB, the World Bank, and potential partnerships with Chinese firms.
These collaborations, he said, are expected to drive large-scale food production, further improving food security and agricultural sustainability in Kogi State.
He reiterated that the state’s agricultural sector is poised for significant growth and that these partnerships will provide the necessary resources and technical support to achieve long-term agricultural development goals.
