The cost of infrastructural development of the proposed federal government Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZs) for Kogi and Kano states has been put at N16, 217.14 billion.
The cost according to Dr. Chukuma Ezedinma, who represented the Country director of UNIDO while presenting the SCPZ master plan for infrastructure at Alape and Kofan/Binkure yesterday, at the technical workshop for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), organized by the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was to provide globally competitive industrial, environmental, social infrastructure that attracts companies and best talents in the field of agribusiness.
He said the first phase for both sites which includes power roads, sewerage, water supply, Gas, drainage, telecom, street lighting fire fighting etc., with over all land use pattern of 565,200 hectares will cost N9,328.25b billion.
He however added that the investment that accrued to the zones in the first phase will be about to pay for the second and third phases.
Declaring the workshop open, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development, Mrs Ibukun Odusote who was represented by a director from her office, Mr Chidi Nwandu, said the concept, development and implementation of SCPZ in the country has become a cross cutting issue.
This she said culminated into coming together of all the relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) at the federal and state level, the private sector, development partners and international organisations to brainstorm and ensure the smooth take-off of the project.
“This is important as the World Bank and Africa development Bank (ADfB) have enlisted their support for the development of SCPZs for Kogi and Kano states, hence our formidable synergy to address some critical challenges arising from the establishment of SCPZ is required at this stage,” she said.
