Olu Samuel
The Kogi State House of Assembly has commended the management of Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (Kogi L-PRES) for their impressive performance in implementing the project across the state.
This commendation was made during an oversight visit by the House Committee on Livestock Development to Kogi L-PRES on Friday in Lokoja.
The Committee Chairman, Hon Asema Baba Haruna, who represented Adavi State Constituency, described the oversight visit as the committee’s maiden official engagement with L-PRES management in this Legislative Session.
According to him, the purpose of the visit is to fulfill their constitutional and legislative duty of oversight as provided for in the standing orders of the House.
“Our role here is to ensure accountability, transparency and effective project implementation in the state.
“As representative of our people, our committee is deeply concerned about the challenges facing the livestock sub-sector such as animal diseases, inadequate veterinary services, poor infrastructure, conflicts between herders and farmers and low productivity,” he said.
He, however commended the management of Kogi L-PRES for their performance in project implementation across the state
“We are very much overwhelmed with the L-PRES performance in terms of their achievement during their presentation.
“We are confident in the leadership of the State Project Coordinator, Mr Abdulkabir Otaru, and the State is proud of him and his management team.
“All that is expected of the House is to legislate and make sure we have robust Bills that will address some of the challenges facing the project for the benefit of our people,” he said.
In their separate comments, other committee members Hon Seidu Amodu, Hon Sunday Daku, Hon Idowu Ibikunle, and Hon Yusuf Yakazi, also commended the L-PRES management’s performance.
They promised their full legislative support towards transforming Kogi L-PRES Project into a full fledged agency towards achieving its goals and objectives to enhancing productivity, commercialization and building resilience in the livestock value chain in Kogi State.
They, however stressed the need for synergy and effective collaboration between the committee and L-PRES towards ensuring transparency and accountability in project implementation.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator of Kogi L-PRES, Mr Abdulkabir Onoruoyiza Otaru, appreciated the Committee members for the visit and solicited for their collaboration and support.
Otaru noted that the visit provided a platform for L-PRES to intimate the Committtee on its progress and achievements over the past three years as well as its challenges.
He emphasised that the L-PRES project, funded by the World Bank, aims to modernize and enhance livestock production systems, promote animal health, improve market access, and support sustainable livelihood opportunities for livestock farmers towards the achievement of food safety and security.
Otaru highlighted some of the project’s achievements, including: Engaging relevant stakeholders and building the capacity of farmers and projects staff, and getting approvals from the World Bank and relevant authorities for project implementation in Kogi State
He emphasised that over 4,313 livestock farmers, relevant stakeholders and professionals have been trained on capacity building, business development, livestock financial stakeholders, use of crop residue for livestock production, and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Artificial Insemination among others.
Otaru said Kogi L-PRES has got World Bank approval for the rehabilitation of nine livestock markets across the state, the Construction Work Phase 1 at the Livestock Service Centre (LSC) Osara, and Construction of a Model Veterinary Hospital in Kogi State.
As well as Mapping and Documentation of Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes in Kogi State, procurement of 21Nos Motorcycles for the Livestock Extension Agents, procurement of veterinary medical equipment to support veterinary service delivery in Kogi State among others.
The Project Coordinator assured the House Committee of effective synergy and collaborations, and expressed optimism that the project would have a significant impact on the lives of livestock farmers in the state.
He further appreciated His Excellency, Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo, The Chief Servant of Kogi State, for creating an enabling environment and the payment of State Counterpart Funds for the implementation of the L-PRES Project in Kogi State.