By Ahmad Babangida, Lokoja
Kogi has been declared the state with the lowest debt for the year 2020, topping the list of states with the highest debt payments in Nigeria.
This is in line with Governor Yahaya Bellos action plan of ensuring that the state is on the path of growth and development.
The State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Muqaddam Asiwaju Asiru Idris attributed the measure to a deliberate sound and prudent management of the State’s resources.
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According to the Commissioner, The State Government paid its local debts to the tune of about 60 billion naira.
The documents which were released by the Debt Management Office showed that Kogi is leading states like Katsina, Plateau, Edo, Kaduna, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory.
Another report presented by the Debt Management Office also showed that Kogi was not among states with rising local debts last year.
States like Lagos, Benue, Abia, Anambra and seventeen others made the list since December 2019.
Muqaddam further explained that the state is a recent beneficiary of a World Bank grant component known as the World Bank-Assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability ( SFTAS) project.
He also reiterated that the State Government’s pledge to its commitment to implementing realistic fiscal policies that would guarantee prosperity for the people.
The Commissioner assured the people of Kogi that the present administration will sustain the strategy towards making the State a model in the Country in 2021.
