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Kogi State

By Babajide Fadoju

The Renewed Hope National Media Tour of Kogi State has concluded, but what it has revealed will resonate far beyond the two days of inspection.

What we witnessed was not a collection of isolated projects, but a coherent, integrated vision of development that speaks to the very soul of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, and with the unwavering support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kogi State has become a living laboratory for what is possible when federal and state governments work in genuine partnership to deliver the dividends of democracy to the last mile.

The evidence is overwhelming: Kogi is not waiting for development; it is building it, and in doing so, it is providing a template for the rest of the nation.

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The Architecture of Transformation: From Rural Roads to Modern Markets

The journey began in Okaito, where a nine-kilometre road that links the community to the federal highway was being inspected. This road, which leads from Okaito to Obagede, Ozuri, and Ozokutu, and features four bridges, is a metaphor for what is happening across Kogi State: the bridging of divides, the connection of communities, and the restoration of dignity. Before the intervention of the Ododo administration, these communities were isolated.

The bad roads and collapsed bridges had separated them, making access to markets, schools, and health facilities a daily struggle. As the commissioner noted, “Before this time, this community must have been separated because of bad road and the bridges that were cut. But with this very good job, the community have been linked back together.”

The economic impact is immediate and profound. Farmers can now bring their produce to market.

Transportation has become easier, and the cost of moving goods has dropped. The community’s economic life has been revitalised. The people of Obangede and Ihima, who had been separated for years, are now connected. This is not just a road; it is a lifeline. The appreciation for the governor was palpable. The Chairman of the Ihima Welfare Association, Yakubu Obaro Galadima, captured the sentiment: “This road, over twenty years or thirty years, we never dreamt of this road.” The road was completed, and the community’s gratitude was matched only by their recognition of the political will that made it possible.

The Federal Government as the Enabler of Dreams

A recurring theme throughout the tour was the appreciation for President Bola Tinubu and his economic reforms. The commissioner of works was unequivocal: “We must appreciate the president of this country, the father of the nation. Without having resources, enough resources from the federal government, precisely from the president, we wouldn’t have been able to have all this dividend of democracy that we are enjoying today.” The community leaders echoed this sentiment, promising their unwavering support for the president’s re-election in 2027. The people of Ihima stated, “We are fully prepared. We are always praying for the president for the second tenure. We are not only praying, we are campaigning for him, to vote for him, to make sure he comes back for the second tenure.”

The appreciation for the President was not just rhetoric; it reflected the tangible impact of his policies. The increased monthly FAAC allocations, a direct result of the removal of the fuel subsidy, have given states like Kogi the fiscal space to execute projects that were once considered impossible.

The Ododo administration has seized this opportunity, leveraging federal support to drive a comprehensive development agenda that touches every sector and every community. The synergy between the Federal Government and the Kogi State Government is evident across multiple sectors, from the Federal Ministry of Works’ sustained intervention on major road corridors to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s investment in CUSTECH.

The Lokoja Ultramodern Market: A Vision of Modern Commerce

The tour also visited the Lokoja Ultramodern Market, a 36-month project currently at 50% completion. With 1,800 market spaces, lock-up shops, warehouses, a hypermarket, a clinic, a fire station, and a bank, it is designed to be an international-standard market. The project is a direct response to the need to decongest the old Ataku market, which had become a nuisance to the public. The commissioner explained the logic: “The best way to evacuate marketers, their entire business and their vehicles from there, is to have a new one, and they will not be evacuated until this one is completed.” This is a strategic investment in the state’s commercial future, creating a modern, organized, and secure environment for traders.

A University Built on a Foundation of Continuity

The Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Osara is a testament to the power of continuity. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, noted the benefits of the collaboration between the administrations of former Governor Yahaya Bello and Governor Ododo.

The university, which sits on 400 hectares of land, is one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing science and technology institutions.

The Federal Government, through TETFund, has invested significantly in its development, constructing the Faculty of Science Complex, the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Anatomy.

The state government has complemented this with the Faculty of Engineering, the College of Medical Sciences, and a 33KVA transmission line that brings electricity to the university and surrounding communities.

The Barefoot Renewable Energy College and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant represent a strategic national investment in clean energy innovation, equipping young Nigerians with practical skills to install, operate, and maintain renewable energy systems.

Primary Healthcare and the Challenge of Staffing

The tour also visited primary health centres, where the upgrade was evident. The new facilities, complete with clean buildings, were a significant improvement over the old structures.

However, a key challenge emerged: a lack of staff. As the officer in charge stated, “We don’t have enough staff. We are short of staff.”

The government has acknowledged this and is working to address it. The construction of the facilities is only the first step; the recruitment and retention of qualified healthcare professionals is essential to making them functional.

The Politics of Development and the Promise of Votes

The people of Yagba West, who had been without a commissioner in the Executive Council for years, now have two. The Executive Chairman of the local government, Oluo Kuntose, expressed the community’s gratitude: “When you look at all that he’s doing across Kogi State, particularly on our roads, federal roads, that cut across, we know that he’s really doing very well for us. And all we can use to appreciate him that we have is just our votes.”

Conclusion

The Renewed Hope National Media Tour of Kogi State has demonstrated that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not a political slogan but a governance model that is delivering tangible results.

The transformation of rural roads, the construction of world-class markets, the investment in education and healthcare, and the appreciation for the Federal Government are all testaments to the power of federal-state collaboration.

The people of Kogi are not just passive beneficiaries; they are active partners, ready to support the administration that has brought them these dividends of democracy. As the state continues its march toward a prosperous and inclusive future, one thing is clear:

Kogi is on the move, and the Renewed Hope Agenda is the engine driving that movement.

The Traffic NG
Kogi State
The Traffic NG
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