Kogi govt. signs agreement with ONYX to construct 1000 affordable housing units »

Signs two other MoUs on maize and fertilizer production

More indigenes of Kogi State will soon have an opportunity to become home owners. This indication is coming after the State Government signed a comprehensive agreement with ONYX First Risers Limited, an international Real Estate firm for the construction of one thousand affordable housing units in the state.

During the signing of the documents with the representatives of the company in Lokoja the state capital, secretary to the state government, Dr. Mrs. Folashade Arike described the scheme as a welcome development which would reduce housing deficits in the state, create employment opportunities and yield other benefits.

She said Kogi State is unique in terms of availability of resources, adding that Governor Yahaya Bello’s huge investments in security is deliberate and is aimed at making the state conducive for investors.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economy, Finance and Investment who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Kogi State Investment Promotion Agency (KOSIPA), Hon. Abdulkarim Siyaka, said the government of Kogi State is committed to attracting meaningful investments to the state which will not only make living easier for the people, but also create employment opportunities and improve the internally generated revenue of the state. He said Governor Bello is interested in providing affordable housing to the vast majority of Kogi people and has put machineries in motion to partner with investors in constructing estates across the state.

The Chairman of ONYX First Risers, Chief Essey Okagbare in his remarks commended the government of Kogi State for providing a conducive environment for investment. He said the signing of the comprehensive agreement signals the formal commencement of their partnership with the state government, adding that they will ensure that they meet up with their part of the agreement which is to construct quality housing for the state.

Okagbare expressed that he is impressed by the quality of technocrats and seamless procedure for partnership put in place by the Kogi State government, saying that the one thousand housing estate which will begin in January next year is just the first phase of their partnership with the government. ‘We are bringing quality and environmental friendly housing project to Kogi, beyond this, we will look at ways to move forward”. Okagbare added.

The government also signed agreements with E-Force Agro Development company, Russia based firm to invest in commercial scale maize farming in Osara. This investment is projected to generate at least five thousand jobs and improve the IGR of the state by over one billion Naira.

The MoU with Emporium Industries limited, is targeted towards resuscitating the state fertilizer industry located in Ajaokuta local government area.