Works start on N2.2bn Kogi House

It was a big embarrassment to officials of Kogi State government. Property hunters in Abuja always asked who the owner of the property was that might have abandoned it for so long. The plot was allotted to the state over 20 years ago upon its creation but governments have come and gone without a stone […]

It was a big embarrassment to officials of Kogi State government. Property hunters in Abuja always asked who the owner of the property was that might have abandoned it for so long. The plot was allotted to the state over 20 years ago upon its creation but governments have come and gone without a stone put down. In line with development guidelines of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the plot was revoked twice for failure of its owner to development it.
But Lugard House in Lokoja would not see its Abuja property go. Kogi State government consistently fought to reclaim the plot. It is to stop this continual cancellation of title that prompted Kogi State government to device a way of building its property. This resulted in taking a bond from the capital market. A Chinese firm Kaibo Engineering Group Holdings Ltd was engaged to develop the plot in two years.
The building will comprise a five-star 89 apartments/rooms and 23 nos. office/commercial accommodation which. The 11-storey Kogi House which is to gulp N2.2 billion is expected to redefine Abuja Central Business District skyline. The project is executed under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) agreement. While Kogi State government pays 80 percent of the investment, the PPP partners, Kaibo Engineering Holdings Limited will bring 20 percent making the investment ratio 4:1. After building, the Chinese firm will manage the property to ensure that it recoups its investments.
Secretary to Kogi State Government Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede opened the foundation laying ceremony with a welcome address saying government is poised to make Kogi a model state in the next two years.
Though it was meant to be a simple ceremony for launch of works for the building, politics took centre stage.
Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo expressed happiness with the coming together of Kogi State politicians not minding political divide. He was happy that former governor Abubakar Audu who did a grueling gubernatorial battle with the incumbent governor had reconciled.
Audu acknowledged his failure to have built the Kogi House saying, “I should have started this project but we had no money.”
Immediate past governor of Kogi State Ibrahim Idris was absent but he sent a representative, a state house of assembly member, Ali Ako. He said the plot was revoked twice but it was reclaimed through his efforts.
Apparently elated Governor Idris Wada said, “Our goal for this project…is to seize and indeed capitalise on the shortage of quality and appropriate housing and commercial accommodation needs in Abuja to our advantage. It’s my belief that this project will chart a course towards the improvement of housing and commercial accommodation, generate employment and revenue both for Kogi State government and the Federal Capital Territory [Administration].”
According to him, “We’ve been quite strategic in our plans to develop this project. Our research informed us of the need to employ a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model as the vehicle for the actualization of the Kogi House project. We have therefore painstakingly selected a reputable Chinese Company, Kaibo Engineering Holdings Limited, in a unique arrangement which compels the contractor to also bring on board a project management team to ensure compliance with the timeline, quality and all the processes and procedures that would lead to the delivery of the project as agreed upon.”
The governor who said the investment will be repaid in a relatively short period of the project’s operation promised that government will monitor works to ensure the job is done properly.
He thanked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, for restoring the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of the plot, and granting speedy Development Control Approval for the project.
FCT minister fondly called Landlord in his goodwill message revealed that the piece of land was encumbered by the time Wada became governor but because of the doggedness of the governor, the impediments were cleared and the plot returned to Kogi State government.
Sen. Smart Adeyemi who represents Kogi West in the National Assembly maintained that Kogi House upon completion will serve as centre of unity and bring about socio-economic emancipation of Kogi people.
To the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amadu Ali, the presence of very important personalities at the event was testimony that Governor Wada is bringing good things to Kogi State.      
Kogi State ALGON Chairman, Mr Aloysius Okino said everybody in Kogi State was excited with government’s action. “Several governors have come but this is the first time a governor is taking the bull by the horns to actually put the mark of Kogi State in the FCT. Second, this structure, when completed is going to generate employment. It’s also going to be accessible to citizens of Kogi State that come to FCT frequently,” Okino noted.
The ALGON chairman opposed the view that the bond taken for the building will put burden on the people of Kogi State. “If you take a loan or bond and it’s well structured, you have nothing to fear. This structure is going to be revenue generating and definitely it will pay for itself,” he argued.
Special Adviser, Media & Strategy to the Kogi State Governor Mr Jacob Edi said the cardinal principle is useful investment and safety nets have been employed to make Kogi House a high profit yielding investment in the competitive Abuja market. “We’re fully aware of the competition but we know we can get the market. The facilities we’ll serve the public will be better than what we already have,” he assured.
The president of Kaibo Engineering Group Holdings Ltd., Mr Sun Kaibo promised investments in Nigeria saying in two years, the place will become one of the most functional places in Abuja.
But government is not without hard knocks. For instance, there are those who condemn the government’s decision to build a magnificent structure in Abuja — that the governor has not done much in the home state so he needs not embark on the Abuja project.
The event drew a large number of Kogi State indigenes – most of them quite partisan. They sang in solidarity with the governor just as they yelled jubilantly to all positive remarks on the person of the governor.
Present were: Kogi Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi, Minister of Mines and Steel Development Musa Sada, Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, Paul Omerua, Tunde Ogbeha, the state’s chairman of the council of chiefs, the Attah Igala and many more.