Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has announced a three-year waiver on selected state annual levies for businesses as part of efforts to promote industrialisation, attract investment and create employment opportunities in the state.
The Governor made the announcement during the commissioning of a lubricant blending and packaging factory, established by Godec Power Nigeria Limited along the Ganaja-Ajaokuta Expressway in Lokoja.
According to the Governor, the three-year waiver for investors cover Land Use Charge, Environmental Levy, Business Premises Annual Renewal, Fire Service Levy and Economic Development Levy stressing that government would continue to support businesses that create jobs and add value to local resources.
Ododo said the new investment in lubricant oil production demonstrates the role of private enterprise in unlocking Kogi’s economic potential.
“Kogi State can only achieve its full economic potential when people who believe in our future are willing to invest in it. This factory demonstrates how private investment can create jobs, stimulate economic growth and contribute to the prosperity of our people,” he said.
Governor Ododo commended the Vice President of the Igbo Community in Kogi State and promoter of Confluence Lube, Chief Okechukwu Obika, for investing in the state, describing the factory as an example of the kind of enterprise needed to strengthen the local economy.
“You are an example of the people we need in Kogi State. Not those who will take our raw materials and resources away, but those who will invest in our state for the benefit and prosperity of our people. This is the right investment at the right time and in the right place,” the Governor stated.
The Governor also called on more investors to establish businesses in Kogi state, noting that the state has the resources, strategic location and human capacity to become a major industrial hub.
He said his administration’s vision was to develop a private sector capable of employing far more people than the public sector.
Governor Ododo commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for promoting a conducive environment that supports industrialisation and private investment.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Godec Power Nigeria Limited, Chief Okechukwu Obika, commended the administration of Governor Ododo for creating a business-friendly environment that encouraged the company to invest in the state.
Obika explained that the factory produces engine oils for petrol and diesel engines, transmission oils and plastic containers, with plans to expand its product range to include hydraulic oil, brake fluid, transformer oil and grease as operations grow.
He disclosed that the company had created 100 direct jobs and more than 200 indirect jobs while operating at approximately 40 per cent of its production capacity.
At full capacity, he projected that the workforce could rise to over 300 direct employees and more than 1,000 indirect jobs across distribution, haulage, packaging and retail.
He also spoke about the plastic recycling initiative, which converts post-consumer plastic waste into raw materials for manufacturing containers, helping to reduce environmental pollution, support waste collectors and provide packaging solutions for other businesses.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Federal Projects, Emmanuel Obasi, described Governor Ododo as a dependable leader who supports initiatives capable of improving the livelihoods of the people.
Also Speaking, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Muktar Shuaibu, said the administration remain committed to transforming Kogi into a commercially viable and industrialised state and commended the Igbo community for its partnership in the state’s development.
