The Kogi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (KOCCIMA) has incurred a whopping loss of N450 million in Kogi State.
The President of KOCCIMA, Femi Ajisafe, disclosed this in Lokoja at the closing ceremony of the 2023 edition of the Kogi Trade Fair.
Ajisafe, an agricultural economist, revealed that KOCCIMA has been losing N22.5 million annually over the last 20 years in Kogi State.
He stated, “KOCCIMA has been losing about N22.5 million (twenty-two million, five hundred thousand naira) only annually over the past 20 years—a sacrifice KOCCIMA made out of patriotism but one that the State has failed to honor in fulfilling its part of the agreement.
“In total, the Kogi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture’s loss (without considering the time value of money and possible interests) amounts to about N450 million (four hundred and fifty million naira) only.”
Chief Ajisafe called on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to rewrite the history of commerce and trade in Kogi State by offsetting the accrued loss of revenue and relocating KOCCIMA to a new space of not less than twenty hectares for its offices and a permanent trade fair site.
He also urged the inclusion of KOCCIMA as an item in the state’s annual budget, similar to the other 19 northern states.
“Let me hasten to warn that we cannot measure performance yet, as we are just taxing to take off again. But I am confident and convinced that with determination, galvanized by early strategic plans and implementation, we will indeed have a smooth takeoff and successful landing at our destination,” he added.
DAILY POST gathered that the 2023 trade fair aims to boost the economy of Kogi State through exposition, exhibition, synergistic association, collaborations, partnerships, trade missions, and agreements for the sustainable development of Kogi State and Nigeria in general.
