August 02, (THEWILL) – Kogi State is one of the 36 States of Nigeria, located in the Nigerian Middle Belt. Created in 1991 from parts of Kwara State and Benue State, Kogi State is noted as being the only state in Nigeria to border ten other states. Kogi State is nicknamed the “Confluence State” due the fact that the confluence of the River Niger and the River Benue occurs in its capital, Lokoja. Due to its strategic position in the middle of the country and its access to these major rivers, Kogi State is a key centre of commercial trade in Nigeria.
Tourist attractions in Kogi State include the colonial relics (such as Lord Lugard House), Mount Patti, World War Cenotaph, the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, Ogidi (An African town with formations of Igneous Rock mountains and a traditional art & craft industry) and natural land features hills and terrains that serve as hiking trails. Being a 2-hour drive from Abuja some tourists come for day trips.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. There are many farm produce from the state notably coffee, cocoa, palm oil, cashews, groundnuts,
Mineral resources include coal, limestone, iron,
FACT-FILE OF KOGI
Area: 29,833 km² (11,519 sq mi) – 13th of 36 states
LGAs: 21
Public primary schools 1818 (2017/18)
Private Primary schools 1071 (2017/18)
Public Juniour Sec. Schools: 629 (2017/18)
Private Juniour Sec. schools: 223 (2017/18)
Public Sen. Sec. Schools: 323 (2017/18)
Private Sen. Sec. Schools: 236 (2017/18)
Nomadic Pry School Pupils: 2,758 (2008)
GDP $4.64bn (2010)
No. of companies: 345
Total Revenue: N67.33bn (@2020)
Total FAAC N49.98bn (@ 2020) – 74.22% total revenue
Total IGR:N17.35bn (@2020) 25.78% total revenue
Domestic Debt: N68.092 bn (@2020)
External Debt: $30.15m (@2020)
Total Tax: N14.86bn (@2020)
Shares boundaries with 10 states & FCT
Hosts the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue
GDP : $32,72bn (@2017)
Population: 3.5m
Productive age group: 15-64 years
Kogi is fifth best state to do business in Nigeria: Starting a business takes 28 days in eight procedures; ranking second after Abuja F.C.T. Registering property takes nine procedures and lasts 33 days.
Kogi is Full of Potentials – Bello
Undaunted by a deluge of criticism and negative media reports, the Kogi State Government braved a two-day Economic and Investment Summit February 13-14, 2018; the first in the state’s 25 years of existence.
Kogi out as uique investment destination
The event was to draw attention to the massive economic opportunities and potentials in the Confluence State that, when tapped, could launch it into the league of Nigeria’s topmost economies, and end its appendage of a civil service state.
According to Gov. Bello, Kogi has worn the appalling appendage of ‘Civil Service State’ since inception and his administration was determined to change the narrative: “Twenty-five years ago, Kogi State was created and ever since then, it is often referred to as a civil service state. Under this administration, we will no longer take that s
“Our geographical location, natural water bodies, variable vast and arable land, human capital and solid minerals are great potentials. I refer to Kogi State as the solid mineral capital of Africa. All these potentials will remain so long as we continue to see Kogi State as a civil service state and nothing is done,” Bello said at the opening ceremony in Lokoja.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo added, “A fertile arable land that makes Kogi the largest producer of cashew, potential major rice producer, a respected fishing community among others as well as a bed of some of the most prolific solid minerals including coal, limestone, iron ore and tin makes undoubtedly, the confluence state.”
