
Kogi Hotels concessioned, not sold- Idachaba
Against the backdrop of the speculation that Kogi State Government has sold Kogi Hotels to a private firm, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon Salifu Idachaba ,has cleared the air, saying the process for its concessionist was only put in place.
Fielding questions from newsmen just after he gave an appraisal of the 2021 budget and a defence of the budget for his Ministry for 2022 at Kogi State House of Assembly, the Commissioner praised Governor Yahaya Bello for being adjudged transparent in conducting the state affairs by the World Bank, stressed that the rumour was unfounded.
According to him, the Governor only directed that Kogi Hotels be concessioned to a private firm that will manage it to the benefits of Kogians. This ,he said, was in line with public private partnership arrangements.
The Commissioner said his Ministry , if given the needed support and legal backing by the state legislature, could generate the total revenue needed to run the affairs of the state.
For 2021, the approved revised estimate was #1,418,500 while the actual performance was #101,300 which is 7.1 percentage,
while the target budget proposal for 2022 revenue is #1,418,500 pnly, according to the Commissioner.
On her part, the Director, Arts and Culture, Wosila Ohuda ,stressed the need for Kogi State Government to build a theatre arts for the agency, pointing out that such a facility would go a long way to increase revenue generation ,
She said if the facility was put on ground, Kogi State would join her contemporaries in the entertainment industry.